Lowell² Nov 20th 1845

Dear Father

            An opportunity now presents itself which I improve in writing to you. I started for 
this place at the time I talked of which was Thursday. I left Whitneys at nine o'clock 
stopped at Windsor at 12 and staid till 3 and started again. Did not stop again for any 
length of time till we arrived at Lowell. Went to a boarding house and staid until Monday 
night. On Saturday after I got here Luthera Griffith went round with me to find a place 
but we were unsuccessful. On Monday we started again and were more successful, We 
found a place in a spinning room and the next morning I went to work. I like very well 
have 50 cts first payment increasing every payment as I get along in work have a first rate 
overseer and a very good boarding place. I work on the Lawrence Corporation. Mill is No 
2 spinning room. l was very sorry that you did not come to see me start. I wanted to see 
you and Henry but I suppose that you were otherways engaged. I hoped to see Julius but 
did not much expect to for I sposed he was engaged in other matters. He got six dollars 
for me which I was very glad of. It cost me $3.25 to come. Stage fare was $3.00 and 
lodging at Windsor, 25 cts. Had to pay only 25 cts for board for 9 days after I got here 
before I went into the mill. Had 2.5O left with which I got a bonnet and some other small 
articles. Tell Harriet Burbank to send me paper. Tell her I shall send her one as soon as 
possible. You must write as soon as you receive this. Tell Henry I should like to hear 
from him. If you hear anything from William write for I want to know what he is doing. I 
shall write to Uncle Millers folks the first opportunity. Aunt Nancy presented me with a 
new alpacca dress before I came away from there which I was very glad of. I think of 
staying here a year certain, if not more. I wish that you and Henry would come down 
here. I think that you might do well. I guess that Henry could get into the mill and I think 
that Julius might get in too. Tell all friends that I should like to hear from them.
 
  ^{1Mary Stiles Paul b: 26 Jan 1830, Hanover, NH d: 12 Dec 1899, 
    Cambridge, MA; parents: Bela Paul b: Taunton, MA and Mary 
    Briggs b: Keene, NH; married in Lowell 1857: Isaac Guild b: 
    19 Jun 1831, NH; Isaac Guild 1860: marble works, Lynn, MA; 
    children: Irving Tracy Guild and Sidney Paul Guild.
    Twenty-five of her letters, covering the years 1845-1862 have 
    survived. She began working as a domestic in Bridgewater, Vermont. 
    1845-1848 worked in Lowell textile mills. 1848 joined her father in 
    Claremont, New Hampshire. 1850 returned to Vermont for a short spell. 
    Then she joined Lowell companions at an agricultural utopian community 
    in Redbank, New Jersey for a year. Following her brief tenure at the 
    collective, she once again returned to New Hampshire.
  2Woodstock, Vermont.}
 
excuse bad writing and mistakes 

              This from your own daughter

Mary

P.S. Be sure and direct to No. 15 Lawrence Corporation.