Reading Pennsylvania October 29, 1858

My dear father and mother.

I thought it would not do to write to you with that pale stuff I commenced with for I know well enough that when you are reading a letter you like to have it in plain black and white. Your very welcome letter came to hand this morning and afforded me a considerable amount of pleasure to know that you are all well, but I was very very sorry indeed to hear a poor little cousin Charlie being so seriously ill poor dear little fellow. I can imagine how patient and quiet and thankful he is for anything that is done for him, if he is still alive give my very best love to him and tell him how sorry I am to hear that he is so sick. I know it is not necessary for me to urge you to do anything you can for him.  do you think Mr. Simmons’ treatment would do him any good.

When I got out of the walk this morning Tom says here’s a letter for you Willey and his father told me I had better sit down and read it and tell them the news from old from the old country so of course I went to work at once.  he was glad to hear of you all being well u nd asked how his aunt Turton was.

We have made several Mannilla Flat Ropes lately.    I have help to spin for all of them, left hand and right.  there was an order came for one two or three weeks ago so Coz Tho. (Thomas Jackson)  came over to where I board (I board in town opposite Hicksons) and said Willey I have a got an order for another flat rope     you and Matt must get on left-handed yarn as soon as you get out.(Matt is a Pennsylvania Dutch man about 6 feet in his stockings and was an apprentice to Mr. J so of course he learned to spin with both hands)  When Grainger was forming the

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Strands he got his fingers foul in the threads and little finger was cut to the bone so he has not been able to do anything since, when the rope was ready for lacing I was sent along to look after the points that is Graingers together with making ends, but the leasing went so hard I had to help Matt to pull it through pretty often   the hole shuts in the quick in Mannllla,  after we got this one in the box and so Mr. J (Jackson) did not come near till we had done but he sent to me to ask me how we were getting along. One of them made ropes was a shade thicker than the other so in oassing through the box, it drove the turn back and kept the mark behind the other , so I made a little water and put it on. Matt laughed when he saw me put it on and said he had never seen that done before but confessed it was a very good plan and the one to keep it right.

We have another in the stretch about yards long,  5 1/2 wide in the same material. Matt and I spun on the left and some of the right way yarn. Mr. Jackson gets $19 a pound for these sort of flat ropes, that is 9 1/2 pence (English) a pretty stiff price is it not,  and ready money at that    They can’t make them anywhere else in the country, The party who wanted them went up and down to this rope maker and the other in Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia , one fellow eager to make one and was going to put three ropes together but it is a no go so it last he got directed up here and we have either five or six I’m not sure which besides one on hand.

I’m very glad you wrote to me this time it is such a long time since you did write. I should like very much to go to Niagara and see the falls before I come home then I get back you can take it easier. I think I should be able to introduce a few improvements when I get half of the fellows here that called them selves Ropemakers are as awkward as pigs (in a manner of speaking) when they were taken off the wheel one fellow I was put to mend towing line Jack and when he threw her out of gear did not know which side to chock her and let her run all the turn out of

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the strands and looked as frightened as if seen a ghost and was all of a tremble when I went up to  him to show him how the thing was done. All the fellows show respect for me and so I get along amongst them very well. Mr. Jackson is very kind.   he came over last Sunday after noon asking if I would take a walk with him and both sons were at home.   Harry left on Monday morning for school- He is a pretty big chap to go to school. I have no doubt that if a man was to insult him anywhere he would knock them down as if it were if it was possible. Tom is staying at home now he is out with the wagon now insted of his uncle Ed Who is in the coal trade in Philly and his wife is also in business as a dress maker in Chestnut Street where all the fashionable ladies. are promenading to the largest stores that are in that street.

I think I must address myself to Mary on the remainder of the sheet so will conclude with my best love to yourself and my dear mother and remain your affectionate son

William

*****

October 29, 1858

My dear sister Mary,

You tell me that I am must not hide one side of of a sheet about fears well then suppose I try to deal with it something else but as it is getting late tonight I will endeavor to give you a description about Reading Fair which took place at the beginning of the month   It is not like the goose fair but more like an exhibition of fruit vegetables and such it is one of the departments and then the different kinds of modern devices s such as carriages, harnesses, sewing machines, organs . an area where they work on patchwork and quilts and other things . Then there were a lot of farming implements, and in another place and also a lot of horses and cattle There were prizes awarded to those who have the best machinery.

The place where the fair is held in this town is surrounded by a high board fence and they charge a quarter of a dollar for admission. Harry had his father’s family ticket so took me in there without paying the fellow made some objection The last time and said I was no relation of his. Harry asked him how he was going to prove that I was no relation of his and then we went ahead and left him left him growling because

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he missed his quarter . In the middle of this enclosure there is a race course about a third of a mile round;  on one side there is a high hill with a lot of benches one behind and above another like a gallery where there is a good view of the whole course. We went round this course    there were a lot of fellows riding and driving like blazers. I saw one horse that had gotten loose with a sulky.  (a sulkey is an institution capable of carrying one person) I can’t say whether the horse fell as if you didn’t been slightly  – but I can say that that that that he attracted the attention of the public by the brilliant manner in which he kicked up his heels and got one leg over the shaft and came into another two and anchor with one wheel of the sulky in a position that Tom Pollard wanted to say was nowhere up on etc –  then again I saw another chap showing that people he could ride and before he done he showed them he could fly,  as if seeming to me as if the horse did not like showing off in that style so he bolted out of the ring towards the stables, fell down and sent the equestrian on a short excursion not exactly for the benefit of his health for I think such set up that he made I would shake his dinner bag and make him feel anything but comfortable for some considerable time although he picked himself up as quickly as he was able to try to look as if he was not the man.

I am very pleased with your letter upon the whole –  my dear Polly and aunt going to find fault with it a bit. I sure like to hear Mr. Vincent very much and I should also like a glass or two of good old generous wine   I would not care whether it made my hair curl or not you must save a bottle or two till I come back and it will be none the worse for keeping.   As to the mustache I must say just now that I am not cultivating but if all is well I hope to have a beard without having to dread it.

I read a work of Dickens a while ago call David Copperfield it was very interesting.  It shows many different characters and one prominent one was Wilkins McAuley a great fellow for writing letters if he had anything to communicate to anyone he would write it when the least important imaginable

We had a very old-fashioned looking lad working at the walk [rope walk] for a a while ago it was he was Dutch and is yet I believe.    He was heaving for me and Grainger the first day he came so we have some rare fun with him  [Ambassadors’ note: He was clearly chewing tobacco]   He talked as if he had got a mouth full of raw liver slipping up in his mouth so I told him to pull the those inkstands out of his mouth and Grainger laughed about it a bit and so did I -but the lad look like and that I had a lot of catechism to say and did not know it and expected a whacking. Then Grainger asked him for a chaw of tobacco he again had none He chewed the stumps of cigars that he found in the streets the next day he had got a plug and so was chewing and spitting something like the drover of your recall at least that past the previous almost fell on the man shoe and some of them squash a mess out as big as if they had spit a rotten egg out of their mouth.   You’ll think I was coming to a very nice conclusion should you

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you will perhaps say if you have nothing else to say just shut up;   you must remember me to all the neighbors to Penn and old Tom if he is working at our house  You must not find fault with me because you know I have five to write and you only have one so that makes a little difference first Saturday night and pretty nigh bed time  so I had better wind up with my best love to you and am still your affectionate brother

William Slater

You will perceive that some days have elapsed since I commenced and the time of posting but it can’t be helped.  Three of these sheets can’t be filled and each where are you have to write them at night and then leave off before you can finish one  When you begin again you have to collect your thoughts and try to get them into the right focus carronade here to delay a few days more remember me to all the neighbors and exchange more it is of finish had and with Tom kilt has a few as not

Does George Askew came down now and for milk and ask about me   some how I expect him/. when I get back I shall have plenty of shaking hands to do for with the job I’m write across the. Across the pew top if all is well and a few questions to answer

Gave my kind love to poor little Charlie and to my dear old aunt and at all of you and I said before you’re affectionate brother

Will