Grimsby, April 25th, 1876

Dear Children,
I did not expect to write to you so soon but I am requested by Oscar to do so.  He sent a letter to you but did 
not put your name on it.  It was directed to Wheatly P. O.

We are all well now.  I will inform you why I write.  Mrs. Thomas was at Hamilton yesterday and she 
inquired about your boxes the boys left at Hamilton Station and they told her they was at Chatham.  I do 
not understand how this can be possible.  You having got your shipping bill and this calls for the articles at 
Tilbury Station and they will have to be sent there.  I hope you have not been foolish enough to pay the 
freight on the boxes before you receive them.  If you have, you are in a bad fix for the Great Western will 
demand pay a second time.  If you have not got them, you had better write to the station master at Chatham 
and ask are there boxes there directed to Erastus, Tilbury Station?  You can get them with your teams.  This 
course would be best for they would have to be sent to Windsor and come back by the Southern.  If you 
have not paid the freight, you can compel the Southern deliver them at Tilbury Station but do not give up 
the shipping bill until you get them.

Mrs. Thomas takes the cars for Ridgetown this morning.  The boys takes the market wagon horses and 
colts.  I will be able to give you more news about how? And Wife in my next letter.  Lizzie is growing 
worse.  She is very weak, she is swelled all over her whole body and her eye sight is failing.  Your mother, 
Eliza was there today and she could not see her to know who she was at the distance of four feet from her.  
She is very much discouraged.  We all think she will have not long to stay with John.  Poor boy, he feels it.  
He had a hired girl but she was very dirty about her work and she ate considerable of Lizzie’s preserves 
before John found it out.  He could not stand this and he shipped her.  Your mother was there today and 
will be there tomorrow.  John is going to try for another girl.  We have been talking of bringing Lizzie to 
our own home.  Children, combine your prayers with ours and pray ernestly for Lizzie.  I think nothing will 
save her but the hand of God.

P.S. Write and inform us about your boxes.

John Beamer



Notes:  
Envelope addressed to Erastus Tomas, Wheatly P.O., County Kent, Ont.
Postmark on front-Grimsby, AP 26, 76
Postmark on back-Rondeau, AP26, 76 and Wheatly, AP27, 76