is the fare of your mother.
     From your affectionate mother - Elizabeth Kidd
     You will get this about the fifteenth.  I am taking Murdock food.  It is for weak stomach.  It is doing me good.

(The following written to Richland Centre, Wisc.)

Sept 5, 1882

My dear Walter,

     I am writing to you as I promised you.  Harry went to Nantucket yesterday with Mrs. Barber for two weeks.  I think his conscience told him how he had sworn at me for he said I ought to have gone with him.  When he was leaving me he said that Mrs. Barber was more blame of him than I have.  He said he never promised her daughter to marry her. She was in consumption when he was going to go, so there was not much sign of wedding.  She would have been married then and her mother would have let her if he would.  I know he has spent a deal of money on them.  He bought a cousin of hers a watch guard that cost seventeen dollars.  At that time could not get a bit of butter to my bread for he would only give me twenty dollars a month.  I had twelve dollars and a half to pay for rent so there was not much to keep tow for a month.   Harry wanted me to have a sister of Mrs. Barber to sleep with me while he was gone away. I would not have her.  I told him when he used to stay all night when there was no one in the house but me and no one living under me he didn't care of mebeing by myself and I have some good neighbors now.  The cousin when he sent for his money borrowed him fifty five dollars.  I told Harry to ask ask him for it.  He never did.  I have met Harry and her on the street when he had not spoken to me. He thought himself above me.  I have had so much to take from him about the money he paid Sarah.  He was mad when you sent for you money.  I told him that he owed it to you it.  Was he mad because you wanted your own.  He had a letter from Edwin a day or two after he had sent your money and wanted him to let him have five hundred or a thousand dollars.  I have sent Edwin word that you had bought a house and you wanted Harry to let you have the money he borrowed you.  Then Edwin writes to say for him not to sent it to you to let him have it.  I wonder what Edwin could think of wanting such a thing.  You know, Walter, that Edwin has tried enough with other peoples money.  If he and other had been satisfied, I should have been here. We were doing well then.  If anyone of my family had any money, I should say do not let Edwin have it for he never was satisfied nor he never will have to do with his own.  Now and for Harry to write to Wolfs for their price list of cockers of Sheffield clock and watch Spring wire.  A man and him thought of commencing themselves.  He wrote to Wolfs but they did not answer the letter in no way.  Harry had to Harry Taylor have twenty four dollars to go back with.  He said he would send the money back as soon as he got home.  We was a long time before we heard from them but never mentioned the money that Harry let him have.  I shall write to Martha for it for he was such a liar and would not try to get anything to do.  Martha is mean that she do not send it.  When he got here he had not a cent for Harry had to pay for his trunk from the station.   He had to give him money twice.  Anne's oldest son Frank is at Edinburgh College studying to be a doctor.  Two of them was with someone at Thorne (She means Cawthorne.)  She has one girl with her grandmother Mason.  Know Walter, Harry is very poorly.  I do not know what way he is going for he has a hemorrhage throat two weeks since.  One night there was a cupfull of blood came up.  When he comes back, I shall go with him to Boston to see a Dr. Schanck of Philadelphia, he practices just throat , as it is if you have not heard of him.  If not, get one of his books and send me word what you think of it.  He comes to Boston every month for two days.  I should like you to write as soon as you can.  I should like to go back this fall but if he does not get better I shall not.  Although he has done me as he ought to have done.  I am very poorly myself.  I get no strength.  I can eat, no doubt if I had gone with him it wouldhave done me good.  I could not.  I hope you send me a small tub of butter from you.   It may depend of it, I can not eat much.  Thomas has sold their church to the Sweeds and has leased the central church.  They have built a new one just at the corner of Salisbury Street.  Give my love to Vina and the children and I hope the Lord will bless you and be with you.
      From your loving mother - Elizabeth Kidd
      Do not say anyhing when you write your letter about Harry.

(The following written to Viroqua Wisc.)

Worcester, MA

8 June 1886

My dear Walter,

       I received you letter and the Post Office Order for three dollars which I am very much obliged to you for, for it was very acceptable.  Now Harry says he has no objections to come to your house, for he will not stay in the bank.  If he can not stand it, they are going to have another boy in the Bank.  Then there wil be five of them in the Bank, so it will be better.   He has always said he would not stay in the bank to go in consumption.   He will do anything out of doors he can.  It will be the warm weather that will ell on him. He said at once that if he could not stand the bank he would come to you for he knows that he will have a thorough change.  He will be restored to good health.  He has had those hemorrhages for two summers, the last Sept. a severe one. Never did anything for eight months and is not strong.  Now he does everything he can do to get his strength.  He never thought that it would take hold of him as it has done. If he has to come to you, I'll break the house up and he will come to you and I shall go to England.  If he is not to come, I shall go bak as soon as I can, but I cannot leave him yet as he has not spit and blood since the year came in.  It comes in hot weather, so I shall keep writing to you and let you know how he is going on.
        I had a letter form England last week from Elizabeth Moody.  She said her Uncle Tom had inquired when they expect me.  I do think the Barber will not want him to come but he knows the consequence of it for he never would have been as he is if he had not gone and sit at their house instead of going out of doors.  It is a poor ventilated house.  He has been there all he could spare time for and he smoked a great deal and that has been bad for him.  For the first month I have taken Murdocks food three times a day.  It has strenghtened my stomach, so my food agrees with me.   Give my love to Vina and the children and yourself.  Write as soon as you can and let me know how you are getting on with your house.

From your affectionate mother - Elizabeth Kidd

        I send you this to put in a book Henry.  They gave your father a book that had it in.  He had bought the book at the Banks Hall Sale.  It was a law book and I know that you will take care of it.  It's not the value of the paper that counts.

Direct to Post Office

Written to Waupun, Wisc.

Minneapolis, Minn.

28 Feb 1890

My dear Walter & Vina,
 
         You will be surprised at me not writing before this.  I have been sick and I know for I write it on the bed.  I should have written before.  We had the influenza, both of us, we are a little better.  It went to Harry's weak place.  He could scarcely breathe and caused him to spit blood.  Me, being old, I don't know when, if ever, I'll get over it.  I hope that Vina has recovered to full strength, and I hope you are well. Tomorrow will be your birthday.  I wish you God's richest blessing and I pray he will spare you to live to see your family up.  I cannot write much.  Wish my best love to you and Vina and the children, and send me word when Walter worked.

From your loving mother - Elizabeth Kidd