I got your letterEditorial Note: Probably L02016. this morning & have felt all day as if it is one of God's ways, opening to me. Dear Mary, I feared you would feel that your Sarah had grown worldly & [?] Unclear or illegible sordid. but you always understand me. Certainly darling, the years so full ofl bitter experiences ha [?] Unclear or illegible ve not soured me; the sunshine has never died out of my heart; still dear, there are times. when, [?] Unclear or illegible beyond the reach of all human love & help, I feel the lines tightening about me; times when I see everythg Corrected: everything to discourage & little to encourage; times when I feel th [?] Unclear or illegible at the weorst I have feared must come; yet I am not left comfortless, for ever has come to me some helpJohn 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. , some way of escapeI Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. , by which I am able to provide for the necessity of the hour.

I want to tell you what you know perhaps — that A's habits led him deeply into debts which obliged the sale of our beautiful farm home & ou [?] Unclear or illegible r little remnat Corrected: remnant purchased us a neat little cottage here; I got a joirntd Deed, by assuming a lar [?] Unclear or illegible ge debt which I am struggling to pay, in order to make my title to my home, good. Things get worse from year to year with him, but my children are a blessing indeed; & I have fou [?] Unclear or illegible rof them in the schools here, all the time & ElleryEditorial Note: Ellery C. Crosby (1854-1929) was the eldest son of Sarah G. and Albert Crosby. is a teacher.

Now dear sister about business:— This knd Corrected: kind of work is new to me; I have done court work altogether.

This has taught me to be accurate of coursCorrected:course. But I am glad to have a new way opend Corrected: opened to me like this; I only ask a mo [?] Unclear or illegible derate compensation.

If you will pay my bills & board as you suggest, [?] Unclear or illegible  I shall be satisfied with $3Editorial Note: $3.00 in 1877 is the equivalent of $83.62 in 2022. a day & will work all day making copy of the notes I have taken which will bring it at a less price than to [?] Unclear or illegible have extra pay for "copy"

The notes I would take in two or three hours, would employ me the remainder of the day & probably longer.

I am willing & reable, to work hard, in [?] Unclear or illegible  the line of my profession.

Now Mary, if that seems to [?] Unclear or illegible much price, I hope you will candidly say so; for I want to do [?] Unclear or illegible  right & would like to leave it [?] Unclear or illegible to your good judgmntCorrected:judgment .

Dear Mary, I have wondered if I shall be as much a [?] Unclear or illegible  child as I used to be, with you. I feel as if I should feel young again, sittng Corrected: sitting by you, as in the years gone by, listening to those wonderful words which fell like pearls from your lips. If I go, I am ready any time Corrected: anytime – can start on short notice – if you think I can aff [?] Unclear or illegible ord to work for less— say so, and I will [?] Unclear or illegible abide by it.