Reading Sept 3, 1858

 My dear Father and Mother 

I was very glad indeed to receive another letter from home, it came to hand on the first of this month as I was going out of the walk at dinner time. Cousin Thomas put his finger up and beckoned me saying “here is the letter on for you Willy from home so I took it and developed the envelope of its contents and began to make myself acquainted with the different epistles and also Sarah circular when I reached the house with the letter in my hand Mrs. Grainger said “oh! I see what you’ve got and you’re glad William of course. 

I told her that I was very glad indeed to learn that you were all well, Then I ate my dinner nearly as quick as a Yankee and got to my letter again but have not had time enough to finish before it was time to commence spinning a different kind of yarn to those samples in which I was just then so particularly engaged in examining. When I was through at night, which was before six I went into the store room and is soon as Thos saw me he asked me what news from home so I told him that you were all well. Including Aunt Riley and that you all wish to be kind a remembered to him and sometimes he and I would get talking about Ilson (slang for Ilkeston, TJ’s home town)  and the folks that used to be there and those that live there now. He could tell me who used to keep Tavern at such a place, and who at another and who kept the one of the old Harrow and that shop against the church yard he could not call to mind the name so I 

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said, Mathew Hobson. Yes that’s the name he said and repeated it a time or two just with the old sakes sake I suppose. About a week or ten days ago there was a Johnny Bull called on Mr. Jackson.  he was born at the Robinets.  his name was Revell and he said he had a wife and child when he was 19 and lived in one of Uncle John’s houses down against the rope walk.  he knew my father and all the men that worked there, when he came into the world. Mr. J pointed me out and told him I was from Langley Mill so he came up to me and put his fancy walking stick in his left and so that his right might be ready for a hearty good shake.  after the usual compliments were returned he asked me if I knew Joe Bowers. I told him yes and thought anybody would know him again if they had one seen him whereupon he laughed in a manner far from snivelling and then began to describe the dimensions of Mr. Bowers.  Then cousin Thomas asked me if they were not some relation of hours. I had to tell him that it was Grace Bowers or her husband who lived it in Ilkeston who were related to us. Mr. Revill was of a build something something resembling Humphrey Whitehead and looked as if you’ve been in a good past year for he was “pretty red on the comb “as Bill Day says.   Cousin Mary Jackson went to see Aunt Watson and her three sons John, William and Amos and their families.  They were all well and Aunt Watson was quite brisk and busy bustling about the house and looking after things I expect John will write to me after a while he told cousin Mary so when he came away but I expect I shall write to them first now I have got a letter. My aunt wants me to let her know how you all are you and how her 

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sister is etc etc . I suppose John has passed a very comfortable quiet summer that’s as much to say they were not so comfortable and quiet in his wife’s days he has no one to henpeck and domineer over him now. When I was there he was talking about wanting a housekeeper and asked me if I thought one of my sisters would come. I told him it was too far, he would be as pleased as punch with either Sarah or Mary do I have looked after his dairy and domestic affairs and would have kept a servant also    He has a preference for English ways although his wife tried to make him believe no one knew anything besides the Yankees. I am very glad they are so comfortable for my aunt has had a pretty tough time of it for a good while one how poor one way or another You would like to see her again vastly I know for she is such a dear good old Aunt. I love her above a bit and so do all the Jackson’s   When I was there Cousin Thomas wrote to me and said give my love to my dear old aunt for indeed and I feel as much affection for her as if she was my mother for she has always been a kind as a mother to me. I think you might write me a few lines next time for I have only had one short scrap from you since I left home going to that one miscarrying and write a few lines for Aunt Watson    she would be so pleased and treasure it up as a precious relic and has done those you have written her until they are fairly worn through where they are folded and if anyone wants to read them they have to work and put it in order something like

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putting a dissected map together as we used to do when we were little children and Mary used to get Bedford if I mistake not, and save it till the last and put it in herself and tried to look and feel as if she had put a keystone into the arch of a Rainbow. 

Now alittle about business if we can find any     for it is pretty dull compared with this time last year has improved a bit since last spring      there at 12 men and six or seven boys at work now,   four of us are spinning manilla rope yarn this week    44 threads for a days work   200 yards wound up 4 at a  time and fill 4 winches a day,   Its no child play I can tell you   To be tearing away from seven in the morning till 12    it gives an appetite for dinner without any Doctor’s stuff and then from one till we have done which is sometimes about a 1/4 past 5, or half past and sometimes six,  it depends what sort of hemp we have. Ben and Tom would laugh to hear a Dutchman    there is here  hollowing to anyone who happens to be behind when he’s first telling them if they want their money to come down there then when its vice a versa       they bawl out to him and ask if they ought to send up when he has 60 or 70 yards of and so we go on. When we are spinning line yarn it is much easier same number of threads out of dress station     we have spun six an hour out of that sometimes for a fleet for a flail. Three threads out of 5 feet    200 yards each so that is thicker and then our friend lines Jan. There these are the the when he has 60 or 70 yards of and so we go on. When we are spinning line Jan it is much easier same number of threads out of dress it station we have spun six and hour out of that sometimes for a fleet for a flail. Three threads out of 5 feet 200 yards each so that is thick and then our taint lines yarn. 

The other day they formed off 290 pounds of engine yarn      reel it all and tie it up with tar’d jute bands, eight on a coil so it gets shut of some bands.

I must now conclude while I have space because I know you don’t like it crossed. I bought this ink from home so hope you’ll make it out without any trouble

 Your affectionate son

 William Slater