MilwaukeeNov.11, 1875
My Dear Friend;Your very welcome letter dated Sept.25, I intended to answer before this when received. I was truly rejoyced to receive a letter from you. I would that I had cause for joy for the same reason more frequently, for if many months pass without hearing from you and your family, I become very anxious. For while life is spared to me, my interest in your welfare both temporal and spiritual cannot cease.
I regretted very much to hear that you and your wife and little boy had been sick, and that there was so much sickness in that part of Illinois. You say you think you will try to go North. The summers as far North as here are not nearly so debilitating as in St. Louis, I suppose. You are nearly or quite a hundred miles farther South there in Jonesboro, probably have warmer summers there. But the winters here are intensely cold, and as there has been little warm weather here during the autumn, and the cold and backward spring. It seems to me I suffer more from cold here than from the hot summers in Missouri. But, I think Wisconsin a healthier state than Illinois, freer from epidemics. If I had sufficient means, I should spend my winter in a warmer climate.
I was very glad to hear of your employment. You say railroading is a hard life. I judge from your letter you are a Station Agent and telegraph operator in Jonesboro, am I correct? If so you must be very much confined not having the Sabbath for rest, but I hope you will not give up your present position, unless some more desirable one presents or is offered to you, unless your health fails and obligates you to do so. Are you ordinarily healthy? The ten years we spent together, you were generally pretty well. Those years I desired to do right and be just with you, but it pains me when thinking of the failure I made in judgement, many times being too severe, not taking proper allowance for childhood.
I wish you would write me particularly about the little ones. How many have you and what are their names? I wish I could see you all. The eldest is almost or quite ready to go to school. Many years have past since we met, but I am hoping still we shall see each other some time before many years, if we live. I often wish I were housekeeping so that I would have a home to invite my friends to visit me. The Lord doeth all things well, He leads us in the right way, and may He bless the and thine is my sincere desire and prayer.
Where is Tommie Sesman? I suppose Irene’s father has never reconciled to her marriage. How long has it been since you were in St. Louis? I seldom hear from there. I saw in a Milwaukee newspaper that they have in contemplation building an immense hotel on Daniel Garrison’s family residence beyond where Mr. Lawrence Garrison lives.
If your wife would like to have me continue to send her the Mil. Magazine I will send it on to you next year. I hope it will improve. Please remember me with much love to her. I would like to hear from her by letter if she has leisure time to spare from her duties. Tell the little ones, Auntie Martha up in Wis. sends them a kiss, and wants to see them very much. Friends here are well. No changes since I wrote you last.
I went to Chicago last month at the time of the meeting of the American Board of Foreign Missions and also went to Sycamore, Ill. to visit some friends. I wish we were not separated by so great a distance. How large a place is Jonesboro? I have formed an idea in my mind that it is a pleasant place and in the middle of good farming country. Mil. is a pleasant city of 100,000 inhabitants built of cream colored brick. We are now half a mile from the city limits.
Many sad changes have taken place since you were a little boy and used to come up here with me. I will close hoping to hear from you soon and often . If you have not time to write lengthy, I will be thankful for a few lines to know how you all are. Hope well, with much love of your sincere friend.
M. S. Edson
Care H. G. StoryP. O. Box 99
You will I fear be troubled to read this.
PS: An interesting side note, familiy lore hands down that as a young woman, Martha (b. abt 1820) "was a sweetheart of Edgar Allen Poe" (1809-1849).
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