[Hethe, August 5th 1874]

My Dear Uncle

I received your very kind and every welcome letter. I was very pleased to heard that you was enjoying good health and getting on so well in other matters. I trust with the blessing of God you are still the same trusting you will still ______ so very many thanks to you dear Uncle for the wemers you sent [end of page]

we John I showed me the pic of yourself which I thought was very good. Will you please to send me one and thin you shall have mine in return if nothing happens between this and then. Please give my love to my Nephew and thank him for his letter & I hope he is enjoying good health. I am very thankful to say that now all are very well except my youngest daughter. I am very sorry to say she is very [end of page]

far from being well. I am very much afraid she is following her poor dear sister the one I send you the bar_ of she ___ thing was a great sufferer in this world but I am thankful to be able to say that she died very happy so that we have reason to think she is now enjoying that Blessed Rest above were I trust we shall all meet never more to be parted. I writing this for my Mother. I am the second daughter the fourth child my age is 25 the 20th of this month August so I think I may [end of page]

claim your acquaintance as great Uncle. I don't think I have any more to say except that I hope we shall hear from you once more before I have home again which I think will be next month, so I must conclude with all our kind love to you whilst I remain your loving and affectionate niece, Mary Elizabeth Lake

Written for Maria Lake, August 5th/74