Joliet 3/18/1876

Parna Crist

 

            Dear Cousin

                                    You have wrote to the right person this time to get an answer from I always like to write to my friends at any and all times. Parna I was very much surprised to receive a letter from you who never wrote to me before and I will try and repay you for the effort for it must be hard work for you to write We were very glad to hear from you and to learn that you were all well. Mothers health has been a little better this winter than it was last but it has been a very bad winter for all in every way it has been so open and damp that it / has made it very unhealthy all over The rest of us have been well all winter We have not heard anything from Robert and Frank this long time. we do not know how they are. Tell Lee that I know how to pitty him as I had 2 of what you call Job's comforters but they are not a pleasant kind to sleep under. Is the Lillie Frasier you speak of George Frasiers daughter if it is she must be a young lady by this time, tell her that I should like very much to see her, many is the time that we have played togather when she lived on the plank road here. I should like very much to come out to your house and see you all but it is impossible now. I have been in the coal business since last June and it has been such an unfavorable winter and such hard times that / we have not got rich very fast Ask Lee if he remembers that young Lady that he saw in Chicago at 144 Madison st he need not laugh but she is a very nice Lady if I do say it. I have not seen her but once since I came home last June Parnie I cannot give you Kate Andrews ad exacly but I will tell as near as I can the mail carrier will find it

 

I have not heard from Debbie for a long time I think I wrote to her last but I am not sure. they were at Atlantic when she wrote last Tell Lee now that you have sold off so many cows that his (wring) (mustash) will go back on him the supply of cream will be short You are right a mustash mustache does alter the looks of a person I will try and get Fatha to write to some of you she does not write as much as she used to before / she was married people will get old Eight years is along time in the life of a person it does not seem so long since you were out here Tell Lee that talk will not write and I want him to use his pen and write to me One of our oldest citizens tried to comit suicide the night before last by shooting himselfe he shot himselfe twice in the head and once in the side but was not dead yet at noon yesterday whiskey was the cause he has been a drunkard all his life his name was Geo Wallace

 

There was a bold robbery commited here on yesterday at noon on the main street in a photograph gallery there was a young man at work there and at noon when he was there alone a man went up there / and sat and talked with him a short time then got up and went behind him knocked him down and robbed him of 87½ dollars and then left the young man was cut some on the head onc on the arm what are the people comming two it is hard to tell This has been a very bad week for everything. It has rained two days and snowed one last night it was quite cold but I think it will rain again in the course of a few days

 

Well Parnie I cannot think of anything more to write about this time you must write soon and I will answer promptly you may be sure Pleas give my respects to all of the folks and tell Lee to write and tell me how that / mustache of his prospers (Kate Andrews address is Lill Avenue the 3^rd house west of North Halsted st Chicago)

 

I remain as ever

            Your Cousin

                        W^m H Hunter

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