My dear wife
I write in haste today as you are very anxious to hear from me. We reached this place a few hours ago and as yet I don't know whether I will stay here or not. If I can muster any how I will go with the passengers to Boston or New York as the case may be my money bag is nearly empty 7 I had when leaving Cardiff. Just now it has increased to 13 shillings by [-] for the passengers. I am inclined to smile or laugh whether [-] [-] and I guess you [-] [-] with me and [-][-] [p. 1] [END OF PAGE IS DARK] out at my great stock of money. But in sober. Seriousness it is not a joke. Well be that as it may I would willingly part with at were it in my power to send it you because I know you are in want of it. Joiners wages in this town are I am given to understand 7/6 for day in Summer Board and lodgings from 12 to 15 Shillings for week. I shall be entirely guided by circumstances where I will stay. If possible I will endeavor to get work in New York state for the summer months then I intend to visits in New Orleans or St. Louis. My heart is Zionward. [p. 2] [END OF PAGE IS FADED] further particulars at present would I think be useless while I am more settled but as soon as I can save a few pounds I will send it you. How you are to live till then I don't know it is useless for me to divulge upon the subject. I hope by this time you have obeyed the gospel of God for know of a surety that he has once more spoken from the heavens and he will accomplish his work. This strange act in these the Latter-days and he will gather in one all the righteous from the four corners of the earth. Therefore, my prayers to God is that he will enable you to [-] this [-] of doing so. Give my love and respect to your father & your mother, William and Catherine [-] millionard and you [-] [-] [-] [-] who may [-] of [-] [p. 3] [END OF PAGE IS DARK]
Remember me particularly to William and Rosa, Jane, Arthur, and Emily. Tell William to be a good boy to his mother and earn good wages for before long he shall come over to me to learn his trade. Tell Rosa also to be good and obedient to you and learn to read and write not run about the streets. Likewise, tell Jane the same . Tell Arthur he shall be a farmer and have wagons and horses. Emily I hope will be able to call father and mother by the time I will see you all this side of the Atlantic and that. Before long more of this in my next letter. At the same time my dear Hannah I wish you to turn your mind a little to the subject [p. 4] my love to all the brethren in the church. Tell Brother Ellis that I am still a Latter-day Saint and I am determined with the help of my Heavenly Father to hold fast to the faith against all temptations. I have met not a few on board during our passage out to be one out of eighty escaped to the geers and sneers Low epithets of infidels. I have no other name for them although they call themselves Christians. But thank God he enabled me to testify to them boldly from the lowest to the highest. . . . [p. 5]
BIB: Pugh, David J. [Letter], pp.1-5 (CHL)
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