Littell's Living Age/Volume 115/Issue 1489/A Begging Letter

by I. S. Williams

This faithful copy of a begging letter seems worth preservation:

"Honored Leady or Gentelman

"The Apeal of a destitute family a husband wife and three children The youngest but four weeks and three days Old this morning which I gave birth to between Virgania and here at a place coled haverdyrass. The conducter had to break up the train and leave me there to share my fate beneath the canipey of heaven with god my attendant and A poor husband that has been disabeld in the army also Laboring under dropsey the last year. He cant get on his feet now without help when we left richmond our object was my pariental Home huntington Long Island but getting Prostrated in our design we were detained. There is none of my familey abel to to travel we Are very destitute for want of some of the Nesireys of Life.

"Honored ithank your Benevolenced for aney aid that you will give To keep us from sufring Adressed as Above Yours with thanks and gratitude"

Captain I. S. Williams.