Dear Sister    I thought I would answer your kind and wellcome letter I recieved some time ago. it found us all well and hope when this comes to hands it will find you all the Same. Hellen I am sorry to hear

your Mother

Mary Elizabeth (Ganoung) WOOD. She must get somewhat better; she lives until 1901.

is So poorly but hope She is Better By this time.  I got a letter from

Aunt Hellen STAGE

Helen (COLEGROVE) STAGE, wife of Charles E. STAGE.

last night. She has got a dress for

tessie.

Tessie Viola (STAGE) DARCY, Helen's eldest child.

I sent it for a Birthday present but if she gets it now it will be a Christmas present. it is like

Finleys and Johnys

Finley Clark WILLOUGHBY.
John Emerson WILLOUGHBY
  (see notes in Emma REDDING letter).

Dres. I made thairs

mother hubards.

A "mother hubbard" is a long, wide, loose-fitting gown. Thank you, Wikipedia.

They will have thairs worn out before She gets hers.

Andy

Andrew Thomas WILLOUGHBY.

Scolded me because I dident Send

boath of the Children one

Tessie Viola (STAGE) DARCY and Nellie Avis (STAGE) RUPPEL would have been 3 and 1, respectively.

But I dident think or I would.

Is Baby as fat

I have a hard time imagining my grandmother, Nellie Avis (STAGE) RUPPEL, was ever "fat". I doubt she ever topped 110lbs in her 85 years.

as She was the last time I saw her. I thought she was the sweetest little thing. I wish you would move back in the spring. I am just sick to see you.

Fred

Fred is a bird. Family lore: my mom and my grandmother always said Tessie and Nellie were named after the horse and the cow. No one ever mentions that their brother Fred (b. 1895) was apparently named after the bird.

is still aliveing. he Sings all the time. I think of you when I see him.  he is lots of Company to me.  we was at Circlevill Thursday.  Andy got a Suit of Cloaths and overCoat and Finley and me a cloak.  Mine is black and Finley is gray and I got me a neW dress and Johny a Coat.  I will send you a pece of it when I make it.  Andy is husking Corn.  he sold his hogs.  he has 20 and they was nice.   tell

Birt

Albert Jackson "Bert" STAGE, my great-grandfather.

Marthy DAVIS is dead and berried.  She was married and had a little babe.  it died 2 days befor she did. 

Ida

Ida Mae STAGE, Clara's sister. Later marries Andrew WILLOUGHBY.

and I went to the Barian but dident Get to see her. 

Ema

Mary Emma (STAGE) REDDING, Clara's sister.

dont go home anymore.  he and Ida fel out About a pillow.  and 8 of us throud in and had mas pictures taken and it Cost 32 1/2 cts and

Harrison

Harrison REDDING, Emma's husband, b. Apr 24, 1865.

thought it was to much and raised a racket about it and Pa sent him 17 Cents of it back to him and then on sunday

Sarah

Sister Sarah Celia (STAGE) WHITESIDE, b. Sep 15, 1851.

fetched her pictur back and said she was unable to give 32 1/2 cts for a picture so pa gave her 32 1/2 cts Back. So She haint got none. I would of give $5.00 fore mine Befor I would of done without it wouldent you hellen. Finley said tell tessie he Could whistle and Johny can talk everthing anybody says to him. hellen. harison sits Stradle of the Cradle all the time. they wont let thair ittle kid Cry atall.

he haint any better than Johny is he?

Clara is throwing some shade here. She is criticizing the parenting style of Harrison and Emma Redding. At the same time, she's praising John's good looks. Unsaid in all that but known to all parties: John Emerson (WILLOUGHBY) is actually Emma's biological son.
Harrison and Emma's baby is Renzo REDDING.

and he haint as pretty as Johny. helen Johnys papa has come hom and when he come

he Brought Johny $250 for to get his winter Cloathes.

$250?!? For winter clothes??? I didn't spend $250 for my kids' winter clothes in 2000.
I first made all these notes in 2001. Now, in 2021, we have online inflation calculators. That's roughly equivalent to $7,225 as I type.
... and earlier in the letter, they're arguing about change.

This also brings to light the idea that John's biological father was not completely absent from his life, at least financially.

wel I will quit for it will tage you a month to read this Scribling. Send my love to all of the family. GoodBy From your Good old sister
A kis to all.

You I love and shall forever

You may change but I shal never

If my name youd regret

Blot this out and me forget.-