Year: 1876

and books. Well, Tom thought had
better give him q square deal on the
start, so told him all about my being
In prison & about you, q how had al
most done give up looking for work, G.
how the Lord got me the job, when i
asked him, & the only way had to pay
him back was to read the Bible & square
it, asked him to give me chance
for three months. He talked to me like
father for a long time & told me could
stay, and then felt better than ever I
had done in my life, for 1 had given
Mr.. "a fair start with me & now i
dident fear no one giving me black cap
exposing his past ife) C running me
off the job.


The next morning he called me into
the library & gave me another square
talk & advised me to study some every
day & he would help me one or two hours
every mite, he gave me An arithmetic, q
spelling book, geography, and writ
ing book, & he hers me every mite. He
lets me come into the house to prarers
every morning & got me put in Bible
class in the Sunday School, which like
very much, for it helps me to understand
my Bible betten


Now, Tom, the months on the square
are up months ago, and as You said,
it is the best job ever did in my life,
commenced another of the same sort
right away. only it is God helping me to
last lifetime, Tom. L wrote this letter
to tell you do think God has forgiven
my sins, Il herd your prayers, for you
told me you should pray for me, no i
love to read his word Il tell him all my
troubles, & he helps me know for have
MIA nhn 30 3D.
to as once did, 4 now take more
pleasure In going to church than to q
theater, & that wosn't 80 once.


Our minister & others often talk with
me & month ago they wanted me- to
join the church, but said not now,
may be mistaken in my feelings, / will
wait awhile. But now i feel that God
has called me, & on the first Sunday in
July will join the church, dear friend.
1 wish could write to you as feel but
can't do it yet.


You know learned to road and rite
while in prison, & aint got we'll enough
along to write as wonld talk; no aint
spelled all the words rite in this, and
lots of other mistakes but you will e1-
cuse it no, for you no was brought
up in poorhouse, until run away, &
that i never new who my father and
mother was, and don't know my rite
name, " hope you wont be mad at me,
but have as much rite to one name as
another and have taken your name, for
you wont use it when you get out, i no,
and you are the man think most of in
the world; SO hope you wont be mad
am doing we'll, put $40 month in
the bank with 225 of the $50, if you ever
want any or all of it, let me know, and
1t Is yours, wish you would let me send
you some now. L send you with this q
receipt for yearof Litte's Living Age,
didn't know what you would like &
told Mr.. q, and he said he thought
you would like it. wish was mere
you, SO could send you chuck (refresh-
ents) on holidays, it would spoil this
weather from here, but will send you
box next thanksgiving any way. Next
week Mr.. T. takes me into his store
as lite porter, & will advance me as soon
as know little more; he keeps q big
granary store, wholesale.


L forgot to tell you of my Mission
Sunday school class, the school is in the
Sunday afternoon, l went out 2 Sunday
afternoons & picked up seven kids) little
boys) Il got them to come in. Two of
them knew as much as did & had
them put in n class where they could
learn something. don't know much
myself, but as these kids can't read
get on nicely with them, make suro of
them by going after them every Sunday
an hour before school time. i also got
girls to come.


Tel Mack Harry about me, if they
will como out here, when their time is
up, will get them jobs at once.


hope you will excuse this long letter
y all mistakes. wish that could see
you for can't write as would talk.
hope the warm weather is curing your
lungs. was afraia when you was bleed
ing that you would die. Give my re-
spect to all the boys, and tell them how
am doing, am doing well, & every
one here treats me as kind as they can.
MIR. u - is going to write to you some
time, hope some day you will write to
me.


This letter is from your very true
friend, who you no as