Algona Feb. 7, 89.

My Dear Nephew,

I was rejoiced to get your letter, have read, & and reread, it, but my joy is mingled with tears to think that I have been the means of your distrusting the Goodness and mercy of God, who gives us all we have, and are in this world, or our hope for the next, without his aid we could do nothing, he is not to blame for our short sighted doings neither does he promise us exemtion from the ills of this life, but in him he says, we shall have peace. My Dear Boy, never forget that he has given you Mental & Moral powers and blesses you in using them. Oh may he keep you in this life & prepare you for that which is to come.

I have no one to unburden my heart to, but you and my boys, so I write to you, and feel relieved, do not think I wish to burden you, I know you work hard, by day and night for what you have, and it saddens me to think of it, but cannot relieve you. God will bless you for what you have done for us, for he says inasmuch as you did it for the least of these, ye did it to me.

I claim nothing for I know I am not worthy, but your Uncle is as good a man as you will find. I have lived with him 37 years and never received a cross work D and though he is not a speculator he had made a good deal of money, and he has not spent it all for self. If he had not made that one fatal move we might have been comfortable, but he done it for the best.

Now about the graves, Your Grandfather bought the lot, and your Uncle Washington, moved your Father, from Cranes Grove, where he had been buried, and we should have taken them there, but it was fearful weather when Father died, and I had a Babe and Mother knew she would soon follow and expected us to remain there, and no one thought of the Grave Yard being disturbed, so she wished to be buried there. I suppose she thought and so did I, that I could guard their graves, You by right own the lot in Freeport. We also own one there, but your Uncle thinks we could not move them after being buried so long, that the best thing now is just to fence around where they are, and put up the stones which are there ready. I know some of my friends would help me if I was there. Now tell me what you think best. Be sure that Dear Mother is our Guardian Angel, for she said she would be near us at all times, and sometimes I feel that I could almost lay hold of her, she seems so near. It will not be long til I shall see her and spend an Eternity with her. Oh that you may be one of us in that land where sorrow is not known. I hope you will excuse this letter for I have been washing and am so nervous I can hardly write. I have a quilt that Mother gave me, and some books of my own which I shall mark for you when we are gone. I want you to sleep under the quilt as long as you live. I gave her Bureau and, oh, things to Josephine and Fannie, only kept this quilt. Someone went and dug her flowers and our niece took her dishes for the house without leave, after they went east.

Nathan dont tell anyone that this is a picture of
your aunt, for I have not had a new dress for 3 years
and Bonnet for 5 so you know they are out of style. I
worked for my Bonnet and Jimmy bought me the dress for a
Christmas gift. If I live through the summer I am going
to raise Fowels (fowls) enough by fall to get me some
clothes. I find I cannot keep boarders, or do heavy work.
I have never been well since Jiny's birth, and am giving out
all over, do you wonder when I have worked hard all my
life, commenced to do heavy washings when but 12 and in
my 37 years of married life, have never hired one dozen
washings.

Now days the women think they must hire everything
and have everything or their Husbands are not worth anything.
I pity the men of this generation. It is well for your
peace of mind that you keep clear of them. (?)

When I came here I staid with Full'z, and he took my
Negative to make you a Picture, and sent me 6 as a present,
and I owed some to my friends I had 2 when I wrote you
but thinking I should not hear from you until I could get
another, gave them away also, and have had to wait for one
from you, this is why you have to wait so long.

I got a letter from Willie in Kansas, saying the Man-
ager of the company left in the night, taking the money
and leaving his wife & Baby and a 75 dollar board-bill
and owing all the company on Salary. They took the Land-
Lord with them and gave him the profits until he is paid.
It is getting so you do not know who to trust, But I trust
you, and hope you do me.

Hoping to hear from you when convenient, I remain
yours ever,

L. A. Wells

(Your Uncle sends his regards)

I send these wristlets not for their value but thought you
would wear them because I made them

Aunt Mitt

This letter traveled after you until the Envelope wore
out and the wristlets were gone, and it was returned to
us, but I am going to start it again. I have been very
sick for 2 weeks with sore throat and Rheumatism

Your Aunt