Harriet (McNeil) Pepple - December 8, 1871 - Toledo, OH

Toledo O Dec 8th 1871

My Dear Niece

I recieved your kind letter last week and was very sorry to hear from you once more I must acknowledge I have been remiss in my duty as to writing to my friends but I am so bussy [sic] that I dont have time to think much less to write. I was very sorry to hear of your Mothers sickness and I hope she is quite well by this time. I want her take this letter for herself as well as you for I have so little time to write that I have to write company letters where ever I can make them serve I am acting as chief cook and bottle washer in the house and Head Clerk in the shop so you can form some idea how my time is taken up I have eight in family all men but three and Kate goes to school and her studies and company takes the most of her time at home and [unintelligible], Mother is with us she washes the dishes and gets the potatoes ready and such things as that and when its most meal time I go up stairs and just rush around till dinner is on the table and in the afternoon come down and stay till most dark and I am in the shop writing between customers I suppose you have had a letter from Angie before this time she wrote before your letter came and not knowing just where to direct she sent it to Urbana in Hannah’s care. She is in school again and quite happy. Ella is in Philadelphia attending medical lectures I havent had a letter this week from her and I feel quite uneasy about her she was sick the last I heard from her she was sick with intermitant fever but was getting better I may get a letter to day noon. I write to her once or twice a week and that is about as much as I can get time to do. We have not heard one word from Martha since she left Akron I suppose she has gone back into her shell to stay another hundred years and then she may come and see us all again we had such a nice visit with her it does one good to see their sister’s every thirty or forty years I think. I am expecting Aunt Dorcas here some time this winter she has lost her youngest Son Albert I am very sorry for her she will miss him so much.

Marcia I am sorry you are too far away to buy your wedding cake of [sic] us we would like to have the pleasure of sending it. And if you will put off your wedding till we get rich we will send you a nice cake. But I hope you will let us know when its going to be did anway we all join in sending love to you all and to all the rest of the relatives in that part of the world and when you write to Hannah D. send my love to her and tell I intend to writeto her some time I ashamed to think I havent answerd her letter before this time. I shall be glad if what we sent you in that box will be of any use to you I was afraid the express would be more than it was worth.

Has Oscar given up moving to Kansas Angie told us he was going give them my love. I must bring this to a close hoping to hear from you soon. I will enclose an envelope with my address on so as to save you the trouble now Sister Dear write to me and I will try and do better hereafter with much love I will bid you adieu

Your affectionate sister & Aunt

H. A. Pepper

P.S. I hope you will excuse all mistakes for I havent time to correct them