Barnet⁴ April the 18 1840

My Very Dear Cousin

I received your letter dated jan 24 after a long time it layed in the office. Be assured it met with the most hearty welcome was read over & over again & again. It brought to mind the many social hours we have spent together which are now past…When I came home last fall found Sister E confined with the Fever…We have had one trouble after another ever since I came home till this Spring…I do not know what my employment will be this Summer. Mother is not willing I should go to the Factory. I thought some of learning the Milleners & Dressmakers trade but have failed in the attempt…
If I could learn the trade there is a very pleasant village in this town which would be a good place to work. There is no one in the place that keeps shop. Hope you will try to visit us this Summer. Come & spend a long time with us. Write to me as soon as you get this tell me of your prosperity & how you are employed. Don’t delay. If you work at your trade I should be glad to work with you. I wish you were here in a shop. Could you come we should enjoy all the pleasures imaginable. Father & Mother send love to your Parents. Wish them to visit us as soon as convenient. Give them my love. My Brothers & Sisters all send love to you all, you all have our best wishes for your prosperity. Cousin there shall be no lack on my part aboutt keeping up a correspondence. Answer this as soon as possible. Direct your letter to Peacham. Barnet Post Office is five miles from us. Believe me to remain your very affectionate

Cousin Persis L. Edwards

  ^{1Bennett Family, Letters (1839-1846) Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, 
    Massachusetts.  These letters appear in New England Mill Village, 
    1790-1860, Gary Kulik, Roger Parks, Theodore Z. Penn, eds., (Cambridge, 
    Mass: MIT Press, 1982). Used by permission and edited by Old Sturbridge 
    Village.)
  2Persis Lombard Edwards b: 26 Dec 1816, Bristol, NH d: Dec 1896, Lowell, 
    MA; parents: James Edwards and Alcemena Frisbie; married: James P. 
    Burnham b: 1819, New Brunswick d; 1905, Lawrence, MA.
  3Cousin – Sabrina Bennett b: 18 Nov 1818 d: 22 Dec 1860, Haverhill, MA; 
     parents Richard Bennett and Ruth Edwards; married 1857: Oliver Turner.
  4Barnet, Vermont.}