Dear Childern
    I take this opertunity to write you a fiew lines to lett you no that I am alive and well    I resieved a letter from you about three weeke ago   Was glad to hear from yo all   you must excuse me for not wright sooner  

Mate is hear

Mary A. "Mate" WOOD, Mary E's daughter.

   She came to weeks ago yesterday   I did moove into the house that Mrs UPDIKE lived in   She has rooms in the Nash hotell   I have mooved again since Mate came   it is in Mrs DRAKEs house   That is down tardes town a little further on the other side of the road   It next to Mr RAINES house   We have nice rooms thair   The other house stinked Mate said   Mate wente to ORSONs to worke the last day of March   I am sewing to SHALERs this week and stay nights with Mate   I had a letter from Edy about the time I got yours   Thay was all well   Mrs SHALER is going to have a baby some time   I cente thinke of much to wright tonight   I wish that I could see you all   Maby it wonte be long before I will if I

gett my pension

You have to admire her optimism on this pension. As mentioned in notes for other letters, my great-great-grandfather served in Civil War for about 1.5 months. He returned home and died a few months later from either "complications from war injuries" or pneumonia. She never does get that pension.

   Thay ar talking now that evry widow will gett a pension after a while   Mate sais that she will write some next time I wright   Wright as soon as you can   It is ten oclock now and I cante think of eny more to write no so gooby   My love to you all   Kiss

Tess

Tessie Viola (STAGE) DARCY.

forty times for me   I will try and write more next time