Dear mother,
    I am afraid you will think I have forgotten you but I have not   I got a letter from

Lissa

Working theory: Lissa is closer to Uncle John than Mate is.
Lissa does not live in Montour Falls. Lisa does not live in Michigan.
She is also mentioned, as "Liss", in the April 28, 1889 letter.

the other day and she said she had a letter from Mich saying

Uncle John

John L. GANOUNG, b. 1836, Schuyler County, NY, d. Aug 1889 in Michigan.
Brother of Mary Elizabeth (GANOUNG) WOOD.

was dead   He was buried the 11th of last month  He leaves

a wife and three small children

John was married to Martha (BURGESS), (d. 1875) and then Edna (SHARP/BELLFRY).
He had A LOT of children. The youngest, Alice, might have been 5 or 7 in 1889 but not sure this qualifies as "three small children" if all the rest are older.

Maria TOMPKINS is dead   They thought she had cancer in the stomach   I have not seen

Georges folks

George J. WOOD, brother of Mate, son of Mary.

this summer  

Little Bert

Who is Little Bert? Must be in his growing years. Pre-teen? Teen?

called to see me once this summer   He is well   I think he grows   He is gettting quite tall   I have not been to Odessa this summer   I dont know yet wether I will get my money or not   I have been getting me some evry day clothes and getting them made   I was so near naked   I have used up a good deal of my money but I have got some ahead now and I will pay the rent   Shall I send the money and how had I better send it   I was up to

Uncle Levis

Who is Uncle Levi? From Mate's perspective, this would be a Wood, a Ganoung, or a Smith.
She's writing to her mom.

a few days after

Helen

Who is Helen?
Helen Augusta (WOOD) STAGE would be living in Ohio with Bert and their daughter Tessie.

Working theory: Mate "up to" Uncle Levis. Mate spent some time living in Ovid, NY. That is north of Havana, using the "up=north" idea.
Was the fact that Helen came home the inspiration for the visit?
Helen has a connection to Mansfield, PA but is "not going back".

came home   They were all well   I thought if she went back to Mansfield I could send the money with her but she is not going back   How much room do you have   Write and tell me how you get along and what you are doing   I hope you keep well   I think about you having to climb up stairs   I am afraid you will fall and break some of your bones   I dont think of any more to write now so I will bid you good night   Ever your loving child