Mr dear Sister Elizabeth

I was very sorry to hear of you being so sick and also glad you were able to tell me that you were in a fair way for recovery you must take good care of yourself and muffle up well about the throat when you go out, and never mind about fashions it is far better to keep clear of sore throats and quinsy’s (?) and be out of fashion, than to be in an have to suffer I was some time before I could find where your letter commenced I turned it every way but the right one at last I found out and was very much pleased with it I am very glad to learn that you have such a good school I hope you will have your health and strength to attend to it when you feel so tired and exhausted you should kick up something nice to eat together with a drop of good old, generous wine and see if that would not get the steam up to a pressure of same where about 70th to the inch. I know that when I have done at night sometimes I feel tired but after the process of “packing” a very comfortable feeling is the result and I am then either ready to sit and read, or talk or walk round town. I must tell you now about my boarding house and how it was I left Graingers. Miss Hetty Zell is a friend of Coz Mary Jacksons and lives in a large house splendidly furnished, she has a nephew married and was living with her but now he has got a situation on the Rail road and does not come home more than once a month so the old Lady thought she should feel more secure if there was a man living in the house. So one night I called with Mary J and the first thing she said to me was that she had just been talking about me

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after we were seated she told me that she wanted a steady pleasant man to board with them and asked me if I would like it I told here that I thought I should the only objection would be the walk night and morning , And so it was on for a week or two untll Edward called up I told him of the offer I had had made to me Well what did you say? he asked I told him the reply that I should like it, By gracious, says Ted I would not know who would not like it, You’ll live “jam up” there And as for the walk, that is nothing You can take your dinner with you. So I called again to make arrangements the results of which are that I have been here since just after I posted my last letter. I did not mention it then because I did not know how it would turn up

Soon after I came here she had a party for supper I did not get in soon enough or I would have supped with them but as soon as I was dressed and ready I must excuse her she must go into the drawing room with her company but was to make myself at home and not want for nothing There was such a profusion of good things, I hardly knew what to tackle first but I will leave you to guess whether this child did not do ample justice to the various viands I found a good foundation with something that was not likely to turn again and topped off with a variety of etceteras

Then I was introduced to the company after talking a various subjects for an hour or so we were called into the dining room to partake of some fruit such as grapes, pears etc and in the middle of the table stood a large glass bowl of the threw richest ice cream that I have ever declined I just took one heaping saucer full of that we all ? for silver plate. I almost think my arm would soon have begun to ache if I had kept on much longer wielding that massive fork. We don’t have such a display every day but every thing is “jam up” as Ned says.

I have had a pretty good blow out of grapes this summer what I’ve eat, cooked and the vine together,

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You may be sure I am very comfortable in such good quarters. My health is as good as ever I knew it to be, I am thankful to say and my sight is also very good. My hands are also better than I have ever had them before. So I long to get her so that I might say that I have never been better in my life. I am not very red in the face nor nor yet brown but about as pale as usual for ought I can tell

I don’t think I can say anymore to you are else I will have nothing left for John and Sarah so I just bring this to a termination by subscribing myself Your very affectionate

Brother
William

Reading, Penn, Oct 31r 1858

My dear Sister Sarah

I was thinking ab out a week before I received your letters that there ought to be one on the road somewhere, I generally begin to feel anxious when I think sufficient time has elapsed for me to receive an answer and have no doubt that you do too. It is a very pleasant feeling to read a letter you have been anxiously expecting at least I find I find it so for I am not satisfied with reading them once nor yet twice. I am glad to hear that your customers “cash up”

I hope you will receive liberal patronage. I think that if the Mothers in Ripley knew what a saving careful housekeeper you are they would want you to give lessons in the art and mystery of making a little go a great way which we know very well you can do as well as next one. I have not got a very great budget to empty this time. We have had very stiring times in Reading 2 or 3 weeks ago in electing a member for congress the ne who was there last did not go in for measures that would have benefited his constituents in fact he did the opposite and dodged questions that he ought to have supported. So the people were down on him” as the saying is and nominated another candidate before the election there was good deal of speaking one party calling the other and but the result of the election was in favor of the new candidate , then there was such demonstrations theater not often seen at the election the President they were fairly common and had bonfire bon tiddle iddle and in the streets had casks

on wagons set on fire and were driving them about the streets the were not particular what they put on the fires if it would burn I saw a lot of fellows carrying a wooden conspiracy to the flames it caused a deal of laughter the the were a lot of fellows drawing a wagon with a lot of chaps with ropes on it Hurrahing for the successful condition they drew the wagon through the fire 2 or 3 times then the next time they let them stop right over the fire it was a lark to see them jumping off in all directions shelter skelter. The comet you speak about was seen here a good while I don’t know how long exactly i saw it frequently we have pretty clear sky here generally so we could see it to advantage. Miss Hetty goes to the Methodist church with Cousin Mary. They have had a love fest today when she back this afternoon she said she was so sorry I did not go with them It was such a nice meeting she thought I should have like it so One day when there was a procession going down the street I heard the band playing and went to the gate that leads up to the back part of the house she was standing on the from step when she saw me she called Mr Slaten came here I you to stand at the alley come to the front door so I went and a stand in the marble steps. I may just say that I went to the gate because it was handiest I’m afraid you would think I was extravagant if you saw how I labored preserves on my bread and butter at supper time. Well you see they bring it out on a little dish and sometimes there is dessert spoon in it so what can a fellow do that happens to be fond of such truck. You know I have a pretty good matured stomach that does no usually refuse any thing that is good and there is no one here like you to make one feel as if he is taking to much

(The rest is cross stitched at 90 degrees) I don’t know what you think of my letter this time but if you start to complain I shall have to write one letter for the whole of you as good as I can. John used to tell me when he was from home I should write to him it would develop my powers. I suppose I have written longer letters since I have been here than ever I did before you must remember me to Cousin Mary ?Ann Dewberry George and Frank when you write to Uncle Charles and all of them also to W Watson and ? Jimerand and all with whom I am acquainted if they ask after me. Give my love to Aunt R and tell her I hope to see her again and tell her all about her sister and nephews and nieces I think it is time I finished so here’s my best love to you Sarah my dear from your affectionate brother

William Slater