Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-05-19
LETTER III.
From Judge Thomson 10 Mary Sharpe
mrs. Cunningham
Binghampton, Broome CO., n. Y.
February %. 1870.

Ttbiud'l % iCt z.
Mrs. Mary Cunningham My earliest and
most beloved friend MIR. Raes letter of
the 29lh of November, 1871, did not reach
me until the I'd Of February. 1912. In two
days after it came to hand | RENTED TO
my friend John Johnston, Esq, Of the city
of New York, fl0 sterling, for thy immedl-
ate relief, which he writes to me he has
done. was truly happy TO learn that thee
was still numbered with the living: but
was much distressed to think how much thy
feelings must have been wounded BY the
humiliations thee has been compelled to
submit to. Thee did me Justice in belev-
ing that, If knew thy distress, ! would be
willing 10 assist thee; and cannot express
how much | am indebted to thee for the
present call. But, my dear Mary, why was
thy situation not made known to me 30 years
ago F! How happy it would made me to have
averted from the woman have ever loved
above others, the distress and notifications
she has undergone. IL wounds my feelings
extremely to think that thee has become the
pensioner of an aims house. 1t must not
continue so. Would 425 annually, enable
thee to remove into thine own rented house
and support thee in any thing like comfort
That sum can spare, without curtailing the
comforts of my family. My circumstances
for the last forty years have been easy, but
never very rich. give thee my history
few months after parted with thee in
Liverpool, ! married into Quaker family
in the State Of New York, and commenced
farming my own freehold In six or eight
years, perceiving that there was no probable
lty Of having family of children, disposed
OF my property near to New York, located
myself in the state Of Pennsylvania, where
for thirty years | employed myself in super
intending my farm "a large one) and in
discharging the duties of a Magistrate and
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in
Susquehanna county. had no desire TO be
very rich, and the bent of my own mind
rather disposed me to literary pursuits,
WHICH now afford my principal enjoyment.
Some years since ] sent to Galloway for my
sister, her husband, and her three daugh-
tiers, their husbands, aud their fifteen grand
children, all of whom are now settled on
three valuable farms, with stock and every
thing they can reasonably want If they
are industrious and prudent, they and their
descendants are placed where, if poverty
reaches them, il will be their own fault
My sister deceased few weeks since,
aged 80 years In 1886 my wife deceased.
She confdcd to my protection an aged mai
den, her sister, who had lived with us 35
years; also her niece, a girl of IL years,
which she had adopted | married the old
maiden, aud domestic matters were conduc-
ted without change. Becoming inirm, |
sold my farm and now reside near Bing-
hamton, 40 miles from New York city
While live thee shall have 625 annually
in December, which Mr.. Johnston will re.
init; and | have made codiciI TO my will
! by which thee viii receive 5000. Should
my life however, be spared for few years
| will remit that sum to thee myself If the
interest of se600, say $50, would supper
thee in comfort, the principal sum, or a par
Of it, would put it in thy power to reward
thy dntiful child, who has ioregone oppor
tunities, no doubt, of lettering her condition
in order to wait on and comfort her ageC
parent When last saw thee, thee hat
three children, son in Scotland, and tw,
daughters with thee; one about three year
old, think, named Mary, and the other
babe in the cradle. How many of thy chill
dren grew mp? What year did Captain Gun
ningham die 2 think thee then said h,
was then in Martinique. If your hand ha
become unsteady, get some one to write M