Chicago Feb 28^th/72

 

Dear Cousin

                        Something over "I was just going to a week ago" but on looking at the date of your letter I see it was over a month ago I received your very welcome letter and the only excuse I have for neglecting it so long to answer is want of time Since the time of the Great Fire it scarcely seems as though I have had an hours time to myself. in about three weeks after the fire before we had got settled down I got word from James in Minnesota that his wife could not live many days / She had been sick all summer but at last accounts was better, but had ben taken worse. her feet began to swell very much and other symptoms that I knew were such as consumptives have just before death so I got a housekeeper and left the family at home and went up got there Friday night and Rachel died the next Wednesday. I stayed with James four weeks. R left a baby eight months old that I brought home with me and left six with their Father he got a housekeeper and is trying to keep them together. I have written to him to night in which I will send your letter

 

The baby is not very well and I think she is the most troublesome child I ever saw, cries both day / and night. Rachel gave her my name, so she is a second Kate Hunter They have two boys and five girls. how terrible it seems to have such a houseful of girls left motherless Albert is 14 Ida May 11 Harry 9 Mary 7 Lulu 5 Grace 2 and Kate 8 months

 

I try to do my housework and take care of baby and you may imagine how much time I would have to spare even if she was like other children. But she requires about double the amount of attention children do in general. I was very sorry indeed to know that Uncle had tried to find us and failed for I should have been so glad to have him made me a visit. I will try and / remember to put in this letter a card of Reubens showing his business and place of business the number of our house now is 82 Grant Place but I expect we shall move in the spring. it was a house we took after we were burned out of our home, but do not like it very well and if we can better ourselves shall endeavor to do so

 

Now I hope if any of you folks are in or near Chicago again you will not fail to find me. Please remember with much love to your Father Mother Lee also Mary and Husband with love to yourself I am your cousin

 

Kate Andrews

82 Grant Place Chicago

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