[Published on 12/11/19 by Digital Imaging Lab (1142)] It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. [Notes added by transcribers are in square brackets. Dashes in square brackets indicate unclear words or letters. indicate words the author inserted to a previously written line.] MSS 7688 - Swallow Family Letters Number of Pages: 4 ----- new page (MSS7688_p001.jpg) Honored Parents. We received your letter some months since were glad once more to see Fathers hand writing and more so with the subject it contained. We gladly and thankfully received your Present of Three Hundred Dollars by the hand of Brother Ransom on his return, and have two-hundred of the Windsor [-]t. Bills yet on hand. Illinois Greene County August 18th 1834. Yours Affectionately Aabel North Prudence North Dear Friends it has been some time since I have written but it has not been for the want of an inclination, but each day brings its cares, and it seems as if I have but little opportunity to sit down to write with the children all around me. We are all in tolerable health at this time. Sister Ladd has a son born the last of July, Luthera done the most of the work for the first two weeks I do not know how we could spare her now, she had an opportunity to teach school soon after she arived here it was in a sickly place I was unwilling she should go, we have had work for her as much as she could so ever since she came on, and I cannot see when it will be otherwise. We were verry glad to see Frank and ----- new page (MSS7688_p002.jpg) Luthera, but I did wonder that Luthera ever had courage to start. if they learn us some temperance in drinking I fear they will learn us as much extravagance in dress. We are much obliged to Olivia for her present. When I sit down to write to Vermont Parents Brothers and Sisters and Neighbours are all remembered with affection and gratitude. I entreat you all to suspend your opinion of what the world calls mormonism untill you have an opportunity of hearing some of their preaching, since I have heard them preach I have read the Bible with an interest and an understanding unknown to me before. I will send two papers which will be better than all I can write, [-]t if you value them not I wish them not to be destroyed you may return them, I will send more if I can ever hear that you wish me to. Husband yours with me in sending love to all enquiring Friends. — Prudence North I suppose that Brother Chester is about leaving Vermom if he had not concluded to put it off as he did be fore I think if he comes by the way of Michigan he will have a sorry time of it Sister May is married and lives in Castleton with Nancy as I used to say and I presume it is a fine thing I am much oblige to hur for hur compliments in hur letter about me and the widow. Some of the Ladies of Illinois accidentally saw the letter and it has made such a fuss that I have not got married yet. and that is not all I am not like to I will write to my mew Brother as soon as convenient you cand direct letters to me at St Louis or Whi[-]e Hall [-] Swallow ----- new page (MSS7688_p003.jpg) Aug. 23d 1834 Absent Friends It is with pleasure that I once more take my pen to write a few lines to my native though far distant country. We received a letter from Mother and Mary some time since and was very glad to hear that every thing went on so well at the wedding it also informed us of quite a number of weddings since we left. I have had the pleasure of attending one wedding since I have been here the lady came here last fall from Vermont the gentleman came from thare a year or two since. We received a paper from you a day or too since with several lines written on the inside of the wrapper which came safe she wrote that Miss Wood got along very well, we concluded she must be teaching school in Fathers district but you never wrote wether she was or not. We get the Morning Stars regular and have received one of the Mothers Magarines. Please write often we are always glad [-] hear even a word from Vermont. Give my respects to all inquiring friends tell the girls that I should be very glad to receive a letter from them tel them to all join together and write me a long letter and I will try and answer it. I hope Father and Mother have not given: up takeing a journey to this Country I think if they should they would never be sorry, there is some one coming from Vermont here almost all the time there has been quite a number that have emigrated to this country since we have been here. I hope I shall receive a long letter from Oliva and Jane as they are all the girls that are left do not neglect writing so long as I have. Your affectionate daughter and sister L. Swallow We thankfully received three hundred dollars by Bunsom Timothy Ladd Deidamia Ladd ----- new page (MSS7688_p004.jpg) Whitehall Ills 25 26th Augst Mr. Nahum Swallow Esq. Brown's Ville Windsor Vt.