^{1Elizabeth M. Stevens
  2Miss Mary Lucinda Hovey, operative Suffolk Mills; called in sick at the mill 
     to stay home and sew
  3Miss Marrilla W. Williams, weaver Lawrence Mills; b: 1830, Albany, VT 
     d: 27 Jul 1847, Lowell, MA
  4Lowell Corporation Hospital, dysentery
  5Miss Ruth Stearns Damon, weaver; b: 30 Aug 1823, Kirby, VT d: bef 1877; 
     daughter of Ebenezer Damon b: Ashby, MA and Rhobe W. Sheldon b: RI; 
     Lowell Institute for Savings Records}
 
 
 

those whose only wish is as seems to be to have you out of
sight that they may get your money and clothes &c
forgive me for speaking so bitterly I could not not help
it for I think the treatments she received during her
sickness was anything but fair and when she died it
was six oclock in the morning and she was burried at
two in the afternoon & I would just tell you another truth
but I dare not put it in black and white.
 

                                 But I am
writing all together differently from what I intended
when I commenced this  I am very sorry your health is 
not good  I hope you may get well by the time I come to
see you for if you do not I am fearful what the
result of my visit would be  I think now I shall be
up there in September if you like.  I have had one letter
from Abby since she went home and I answered it in a
hurry (the same as you will think I have yours) she wrote
that she should return to Lowell in about 3 weeks from
this  I was over at 22 the evening after I got your letter
I told Sarah Cross she said she roomed with Martha she was
dreadful sick after you left and the day that I was over
there she had had her dress on the first time  Experience
took care of her I don’t doubt she had the very best care
Sophronia Tuck⁶ is sick now she is in the care of Dr. Birnham⁷
I beleive the rest of the girls are all well they all seemed
very much pleased to hear from you and wished to be
 

    ^{6Miss Sophronia Tuck, operative Suffolk Mills, boarding at 22 Suffolk Mills; 
        b: 1830, ME; boarding at 12 Suffolk Mills; family moved to Grundy County, Il; 
       married Velasco L. Fuller b: 1836, NY
    7Walter Burnham, Jr., physician; b: 12 Jan 1808, Brookfield, VT 
       d: 1883, Lowell, MA; business at Central and Middlesex Sts.}
 
 
 

remembered by you  Abby Fiske⁸ in particular she is getting
ready to leave these diggings  I don’t think anything more
to write now only I have changed my boarding place
again.  what you think ob dat ha?  Ill tell you why
Miss Hemmageway⁹ took five paddies to board¹⁰ and I
can tell you such work as they made I would not stay
so you see I just put-off and came to 18 on the Suffolk¹¹
here I am now.  the old woman¹² makes or tries to make
us all go to meeting but you see she can’t drive me
and she has almost given up the idea that she can
Everything else I like much better than I ever have else-
where. I was thinking if you had any pigs they would have
been set at liberty when you was eighteen  I wish I could have
seen you that day I should have given to something to remem-
ber I’ll warrant you  You see I have written the little shroud
as I promised you I would if you will write me again in
my answer I will send the Silver moon  I have not written
anything as yet worth reading and I will not weary you
patience by writing any more nonsense dont forget to
direct your next letter to No.18¹³ instead of 26¹⁴ Sincerely Yours now & ever
                                   Mary L. Hovey¹⁵

PS  if you dont write me another letter before long I shall
be after thinking you dont consider this worth your notice any
how now you mind that you you see I did not forget to write
you a letter full & long as your own if not longer  Lucinda¹⁶
 

[on cover]
Elizabeth M. Stevens¹⁷
Leyden, Mass. 

    ^{8Miss Abby Fiske: b: 1821, ME; daughter of Abner Fiske and Olive Littlefield; 
        1847 Lowell, MA: operative; 1860 Biddeford, MA: dressmaker
    9Miss Sophronia Hemenway, BH Keeper #26 Suffolk
   10Mrs. Sarah Parker, BH Keeper #28 Suffolk Mills, 46 boarders at least 29 Irish
   11Mrs. Hannah Tenney Morrison, BH Keeper #18 Suffolk Mills, 10 boarders 
        at least 3 Irish
   12Mrs Hannah Tenney Morrison b: 3 Jan 1792, Bradford, MA d: 13 Nov 1880, 
       Billerica, MA; 1847-1870 Lowell, MA BH Keeper #18 Suffolk Mills; 
       married 1876 Franklin Davis Morrison  b: 26 Nov 1788, Corinth, VT 
       d: 6 Apr 1835, ME; daughter of Adelaide Clinton Morrison b: 27 Nov 1833, NH
  13Mrs. Hannah Tenney Morrison, BH Keeper
  14Miss Sophronia Hemenway, BH Keeper
  15Miss Mary Lucinda Hovey, operative Suffolk Mills, boarding 18 Suffolk Mills 
      formerly 26 Suffolk; b: 29 May 1828, Lyme, NH d: aft 1910; daughter of Dudley 
      and Rubie Hovey; married Frederick Hiram Herbert b: 4 Nov 1823, Haverhill, 
      NH d: 25 Jun 1869, Waco, TX
  16Miss Mary Lucinda Hovey
  17Elizabeth M. Stevens}