Lowell July 21, 1832

Dear Brother

   I intended to have replied to your letter as
soon as my business would permit it, but your sudden
departure from Boston was the occasion of fresh delay-
we conclude that your departure was very sudden as we
have not rec’d any letter from you on the subject-to enlighten
us as to the length of your absence so but presume the
principal object of your visit was to see Stephen & his family.
-----? Did you leave a certain young lady as much in
the dark/ We are all tolerably well at home-Hannah
has been at Nashua for the past fortnight-I shall go this
evening and expect that she will return with me.
I hear nothing especially interesting in the way of news
(this in way of noose-Mr.Daman is married) things go on in
about the same way as when you left.- Mr. Meacham
told me yesterday that he thought there was a probability of
his wanting to engage you for a year at $5 per week if 
you could not do better- I promised to communicate the
sum to you, that you might act accordingly.

   The all engrossing topic here is the dreaded cholera-people
are very uneasy and some girls have left town in the last
news from Boston on the subject is that a steam boat from
N York had arrived quarantined with a man on board
who died of that disease on the passage,
we are in daily expectation of a letter from you, hope you
will write soon if you have not already written.

   Mother sends her love to you also Stephen and his
wife-in which you may include your affectionate Brother

                                            M. S. Gilman