This was written by Dora, wife of Edward Lyman Kittredge, to Sophia French in 1889. Sophia had just arrived in Los Angeles with her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and George Hewes, and their four children—they had moved from Iowa in November 1889. Reading this, you realize that in those days moving to such a place meant never seeing your loved ones in the East again, and that was true in Sophia's case.
Roxbury, Dec 9, 1889
My dear Sister,
Yours we were so glad to get for we were very anxious to know if you arrived safe, and we were very much releived when we got your letter and found you were there and able to write yourself. I sent it to Farrington as soon as read, and from him it will go to Minot and Henry. Edward has been home a week with a bad throat, is better so he has rode over to Cambridge to-day and thinks he will go in to market a while tomorrow. Perhaps he may if pleasant and he will promise he will not take his coat off and try to work. Sister Tempie has been with us one week to-day, now she is to spend a week each with George and Lettie; she sends much love to you. We do have such dreadful warm weather for the season; it is like Spring most of the time and I don’t think it is so well for any of us, as if clear and cold only think December, and I have not on my thick flannels yet and at that uncomfortable. Oh dear how I should like to stop in and see you all there together. Edward said the other day I should like to drop in and take tea with Sophia tonight; and I don’t think either of your brothers and sisters would object to do the same if they could. I for one would walk a long way to do it. I have not seen any of the brothers and sisters very lately but think they are all pretty well. George and Franny with little Francis are very well and G was delighted as well as the rest to hear of your safe arrival. I think it a great wonder that you and Nancy were not sick after your journey and work to get off. My love to Nancy. Tell her we all thought a great deal about her and Lettie said she did not see how she could ever get ready and start off with her four little ones and poor Aunt Sophia so feeble. She sends lots of love. I hope that the children will be well and you will all live to enjoy each other for a long time. It must be heaven on earth to you to be with your Dear Boy once more and he must be overjoyed to have his mother with him after so long a time away. My love to him and his wife and children. Though we may not meet in this world, let us pray we may heareafter where there is no more parting. Edward sends lots of love to you all and says tell them we think of them very often. Willie is well and smart as can be, gets on well in school. He remembers Grandpa perfectly just where he used to sit by the kitchen window. Let us hear from you often and will bid you good night with a world of love for all and more than I can put in this for my dear sis Sophia.
Sis Dorah