South Newbury and visited Daniel's widow and son Philip. They seemed very comfortable. Philip is twenty years old and of about the same size as his father was, whom he resembles. nected with a creamery at that place.

He is con

Sister Almira was well when I last heard from her. Her daughters, Myra and Laura, have been to Lowell, Mass., visiting our relatives there. They enjoyed their visit very much.

Tell Liveria that I have her photograph framed and put up in the parlor where we can see it often. Frank McCoy, our poor sister Mary's oldest son, sent me his photograph and wrote a long letter. He says that his step-mother gives them a pleasant home, but it is not the home of his own mother. Your sister,

HARRIET N. PORTER.

LOWELL, MASS., April 11, 1886

Dear Uncle and Aunt: I write this to tell you that my mother is very, very sick. The doctor says that she can live but a short time, perhaps a week. She has been unwell and failing for four months, and has had a complication of diseases. Her heart troubles her the most and distresses her very much. I have only time to write a few lines now, and will write again soon. Oh, I cannot lose dear mother. What can we do without her? Your niece,

my

MARY C. McCoy.

LOWELL, MASS., April 26, 1886,

Dear Brother Hildreth: Your letter was duly received. I am full of grief. Your sister Mary, my dear wife, is dead and buried. She was all to me that a wife could be. When we were married I took her by the hand, and hand in hand we lived till her life was ended. She was a great sufferer while sick. She had her senses to the last. Her

dying hours were calm and peaceful. We did for her all that care and money could do. Now my home is desolate. Dear brother you can sympathize with me; but oh how lonely we are! Please write often. Your bereaved brother,

CHARLES McCoy.

Dear Uncle and Aunt: Father has not mentioned in his letter that aunt Harriet N. Porter has been here, but too late to see mother before she died. She stopped with uncle Albert most of the time while here. We were glad she came. She left for home to-day. She looked and appeared very much like mother.

Father wishes to have me keep house for him and I shall do so for the present. My brothers are boarding near by and are all doing well. With good wishes for you and auntie, I remain Your loving niece,

MARY C. MCCOY.

LOWELL, MASS., Sept. 7th, 1887.

Dear Uncle and Aunt: I write to tell you about my visit to Vermont. I started the 15th of August, on the 9:15 a. m. train from Lowell and arrived at Bradford, Vt., a few minutes past 3 o'clock p. m. There cousin Mary Wason, of Corinth, met me with a team, and a little after 6 o'clock that evening I was shaking hands with my aunt, Almira Wason, and her daughter Laura. I was very glad to be there and thus see my aunt and cousin for the first time. I had always heard that it was pleasant there and I truly found it so.

On Wednesday we went to see aunt Harriet Porter, three miles distant, and met with a warm welcome there. A great amount of talking was done by us all. On Friday we visited Laura at her home in Washington, and on Sunday we all attended the M. E. Church near uncle Porter's. We next visited Chelsea. We went all over your

old home and that of my mother-visited the Chelsea cemetery where grandpa and grandma Hildreth rest, and so many of our relatives. I enjoyed my visit everywhere exceedingly. Every one tried so hard to entertain me. I feel very grateful for their kindness.

Please write soon and tell us how you both are. Our Lowell friends are all well.

Affectionately your niece,

MARY C. McCoy.

Brother Hildreth: Mary has had a very enjoyable visit to your native town. It does me about as much good to hear her talk about it as it would had I gone myself. Brother, it has been a very lonesome year to me, but Minnie is all that a daughter can be to a father, bereft as we have been. Edwin is married and lives near us. has a nice wife and they are doing well. Frank and Allie are not married. The boys are all earning money and prospering. As for me, I am still connected with the Lowell machine shop and am kept very busy.

He

How is sister Liveria? I hope her health is improving. Give her my best wishes and write often. Your brother,

CHARLES McCoy.

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT., Dec. 19, 1873.

Dear Uncle and Aunt: We received your letter the 28th of November. Father was glad to hear from you and very much pleased with the nice present that you sent him. Last night I also received your letter and the splendid present that you sent. I hardly know how to express my thanks. Mother often says she does not know what we should do without Uncle Frank. Father's cancer is growing worse. He suffers much and is losing all his flesh. He used to weigh 150 pounds. Now he weighs but 80 pounds. He is very patient. How we do wish you could come and see him.

You know father was station agent here for the Passumpsic Railroad Company. Since he has been sick I have done all the business at the station, the

last six months, with good success. The superintendent says I do the business as correctly as any agent on the road.

We are having a cold winter, and the people are seeing hard times. Snow came, giving us good sleighing, on the 11th of November.

Your affectionate niece,

AMANDA L. HILDRETH.

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT., Feb. 9, 1874.

It

Dear Uncle and Aunt: Your letter was received Jan. 31st. We were all very glad to hear from you and learn that you were well. Father is failing. He faints every time his cancer is dressed. It is on his face and is eating out his left eye. is dreadful to see him suffer so much and think that he can be no better. He often wonders what we shall do when he is gone. "If it were not for hope the heart would break.'

The thermometer We keep a fire night

We have good sleighing now. has marked 30° below zero. and day. Wood is $5.00 per cord, and our expenses are heavy. Flour is $12.00 a barrel; potatoes 65 cents a bushel; good sugar 12 cts. a pound. I send you some Bradford newspapers. Please do write often. With love from us all to aunt Liveria and yourself. I remain

Your affectionate niece,

AMANDA L. HILDRETH.

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT.. July 23, 1874.

Dear Uncle and Aunt: Our dear father is no more. He died at 11:40 o'clock last night. Yesterday forenoon he was struck with paralysis of the brain, and after one o'clock p. m., he could not speak. Oh! what can we do without him?

The funeral will be at 2 o'clock p. m., July 24th. I cannot stop to write more.

Affectionately, your niece,

AMANDA L. HILDRETH.

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT., Aug. 2. 1874.

Dear Uncle and Aunt: We received a letter from you last night, also one a few days previous, directed to sister Lucy. We are so sad and lonely I hardly know how or what to write. At about noon before father died mother dressed his sore and he said he felt better. He did not speak again. The doctor says the cancer had eaten through to the brain and paralyzed his whole system. It was his request to be buried in the Newbury cemetery, so that mother and us children can visit his grave often. The funeral was largely attended. The text for the sermon was: The righteous man has hope in his death." Uncle Lyman Porter and aunt Hattie were here. Aunt Almira Wason was unable to come. We telegraphed to aunt Mary McCoy and uncle Albert Hildreth in Lowell, but they did not come. Mother had one sister here at the funeral. The neighbors were very kind to us. Father was 52 years and 4 days old. He had a great many friends here. One man remarked that he had not one enemy. The physician said he never saw a greater sufferer than father was, nor one who bore his suffering more patiently. Mother is all worn out with care and watching, and cannot feel reconciled to our loss. Father expressed his gratitude to mother for her constant care. The money you sent mother was very acceptable. She thanks you a thousand times. God will reward you for your kindness. Write often. Your affectionate niece,

AMANDA L. HILDRETH.