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(The following letter was written by Sybelia Currie Riley to her half sister Mary Esther Richards)
The original page size of the letter is 4 1/2 inches by 7 inches.
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Nov 14 1875
Dear Sister Mary
I
did not know you were going
to "New Orleans" so soon.
I hope
you had a pleasant trip and
are recovering fast. You
certainly have a great deel of
courage to travle alone under
the cercumstances. Although if
I had ever suffered as I know
you have I could brave anything
(end of page 1)
to get relief. Annie came down
today and said Leila and
Sou stayed all night at your
house last night. Little Lee came
over after them, poor little
fellow. I know his is lonesome
without "Auntie" and wishes
for her every day.
Sister Huldah
and I spent the eve with
Miss Gill (?) Thursday and
had a very pleasent time
he had had a very bad
spell of Collic and hadn't
entirely recovered was mak-
ing some mighty pretty little
clothes. I heard that she
was sick yesterday and
saw Mrs. Lnd (?) and Mrs. Spann(?)
(?) just now. I expect
the event is not far off. I
do hope and pray that she may
come out all right.
(end of page 2)
I believe the little boy is getting
a little better but he cryes
so much, and as for me I
get worse and better, at
present I am doing tolerably
well but I get right sick
sometimes and think I never
will get well. I feel so no
account and good for nothing.
The Dr's meadison did not do
me any good. I am taking
Salts and Laudanum now
under Papa's directons. I do
want to get well so much be
fore Christmas. Sister Mary
if you get well enough, Kate
and I would like if you would
do a little shopping for us about
twenty dollars worth. There are
some things I want I will
hate to trust to the merchants.
Kate wants herse for Christmas.
You must write and tell me
(end of page 3)
all about your life and your
self. You don't know how much
I feel for you and how anx-
ious I am for your recovery
I often think why so good a
Christian as yourself should be
chastened so, and how patiently
you bare it. Ho I hope and
pray to be half as good!
Kate got
a letter from Sis Susie (?) yesterday
she says if you come to see her
she will let you bring little
Nan back and keep her untill
she comes how I hope you can go.
My old "Darling" is going to
make me a present of a machine
(end of page 4)
(This last part of the letter is upside down in the top margin.)
soon. I have writtten to Mr. Gilbert
about it and will send for it
as soon as I here from him.
Will feel quite rich and very
proud of it. With much love I
remain as ever Bealie Write soon
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(Note on top of page 1, I assume written at a later date by "Sister Mary", i.e., Mary Esther Richards to Buddie, one of Sybelia's boys.)
Read these Buddie
and keep them. You
will see how she loved
me and trusted me.
Evidenced too, by her
giving me "her boys"
Mamma.
(Apparently, this letter and Hester's 1877 letter to Mary Esther are being used by her after Sybelia's death to convince Buddie that their mother wanted her, Mary Esther, to raise her boys.)
(At the time that this letter was written, Mary Esther was 26 years old and Sybelia was 21.)
(William Gilfoil, now 93 yrs old, says that John Riley's first wife, i.e., Sybelia, gave him several sons but she and they all died young. I have found mention only of Buddie and Jamie.)
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