FROM: Clara Willoughby, Darbyville, Ohio
Dear Sister I thought I would answer your kind and wellcome letter I recieved some time ago. it found us all well and hope when this comes to hands it will find you all the Same. Hellen I am sorry to hear your Mother is So poorly but hope She is Better By this time. I got a letter from Aunt Hellen Stage last night. She has got a dress for tessie. I sent it for a Birthday present but if she gets it now it will be a Christmas present. it is like Finleys and Johnys Dres. I made thairs mother hubards.
Editor’s note: A “mother hubbard” is a long, wide, loose-fitting gown. Thank you, Wikipedia.
They will have thairs worn out before She gets hers. Andy Scolded me because I dident Send boath of the Children one But I dident think or I would. Is Baby as fat as She was the last time I saw her. I thought she was the sweetest little thing. I wish you would move back in the spring. I am just sick to see you. Fred is still aliveing. he Sings all the time. I think of you when I see him. he is lots of Company to me. we was at Circlevill Thursday. Andy got a Suit of Cloaths and overCoat and Finley and me a cloak. Mine is black and Finley is gray and I got me a neW dress and Johny a Coat. I will send you a pece of it when I make it. Andy is husking Corn. he sold his hogs. he has 20 and they was nice. tell Birt Marthy Davis is dead and berried. She was married and had a little babe. it died 2 days befor she did. Ida and I went to the Barian but dident Get to see her. Ema dont go home anymore. she and Ida fel out About a pillow. and 8 of us throud in and had mas pictures taken and it Cost 32 1/2 cts and Harrison thought it was to much and raised a racket about it and Pa sent him 17 Cents of it back to him and then on sunday Sarah fetched her pictur back and said she was unable to give 32 1/2 cts for a picture so pa gave her 32 1/2 cts Back. So She haint got none. I would of give $5.00 fore mine Befor I would of done without it wouldent you hellen. Finley said tell tessie he Could whistle and Johny can talk everthing anybody says to him. hellen. harison sits Stradle of the Cradle all the time. they wont let thair ittle kid Cry atall. he haint any better than Johny is he? and he haint as pretty as Johny.
Editor’s note: Clara is throwing some shade here. She is criticizing the parenting style of Harrison and Emma Redding. At the same time, she’s praising John’s good looks. Unsaid in all that but known to all parties: John Emerson Willoughby is actually Emma’s biological son.
helen Johnys papa has come hom and when he come he Brought Johny $250 for to get his winter Cloathes.
Editor’s note: The individual notes suggest that John’s father was well-to-do. This statement gives that some weight. Earlier in this very letter, the Stage siblings are arguing over sums less than a dollar. $250 in 1891 is somewhere in the neighborhood of $9000 today (in 2026)
wel I will quit for it will tage you a month to read this Scribling. Send my love to all of the family. GoodBy From your Good old sister
to her sweat sister Hellen
A kis to all.
You I love and shall forever
You may change but I shal never
If my name youd regret
Blot this out and me forget.