My dear sister, I hope these few lines will find you all well as it leaves us all at present, thank God. I hope you will forgive me for not writing before. I have had so much writing to do lately, for my family are scattered about. I have only my eldest son near me now. I must tell I have twenty grandchildren and am expecting two more every day. To hear it, my youngest daughter has been in a very queer way this last three months. I feel afraid it will go bad with her but we must trust in God, he is all sufficient now. Since I began to write, I have heard that my daughter in law has got a son now. I hope you are enjoying yourselves in your new house. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas dinner in it. I thought about you and did wish I could step in and see you, but we never shall in this world, but hope we shall in a better one. Your sister Charlotte is a very poor thing. She is never well though she keeps about. Hannah and husband are well. I seldom see either of them unless I go to see them, which they might if they liked. Hannah is such an old maidish person, she never has time. My husband saw Charles at Norwich the other week. He was looking well. Trade is very slow all round here. There is a great many people out of employ. We hope for better times. Dear sister, I can't send you a likeness this time. I can't get my husband to get his taken. I have got the promise of my boys, but they are a long time coming. My Hannah has got to live in London but she does not like London. I have had one of her little girls with me till the other week. Her father came for her. They left Reepham last August I. wish they had been there now for I am afraid they are not getting on as well as they had expected. We have had a great many deaths in our parish this last year. It will be our turn. We cannot tell how soon and that we may be all ready to appear before God. Now I must [say] goodbye. God bless you all may we all meet in heaven. we remain your loving sister Joseph joins in love with me to all. I remain your loving sister,

Mary Burton