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                                                                                                                                                                                             Mother to Bangor (unclear) (unclear)
                                                                                                                                                                                                         March 26, 1853
My Dear Children, First I must thank you more especially My Nettie tho you are both one- for a very beautiful Book Mark it is in modern phrase exquisitely Elegant
    I intended to have written to you again before now but being here and having in some men have the care of cooking and household affairs seems to absorb about what little i have left of mind and thought-- However I enjoy it---- when you can get the girls letters as a substitute for mine you'll be great  (unclear) by it you know for I am  growing old & stupid or rather I am grown old and stupid --- only think now I am 66 years old. And what has my life been ? if I could not throw it all away and flee to Christ as a hiding place  and (unclear), how miserable I should be I had a letter from your Uncle at  (unclear) a few days since           He said he had been sick but is getting better your uncle Enoch perhaps you know has had a shock of  paralysis cannot use his right hand feeds and shaves himself with his left    Eliab has I suppose told you of  the " Brig Susan Duncan's " Disaster her Master carried away  He making a Bill of 2 or 3000.00  for her owner.  Eliab is more  unfortunate than he  (unclear) to be his health so poor these two years past

(left side of page and top ) does not as a gift, but rather as a matter of rights , it would be more agreeable to her feelings with out doubt__ If we are wrong in the matter why then do nothing about it. I have said nothing E as he has unusual expense about this time. In haste Most affectionately, Sister Lucy