Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey to his daughter, Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. Incomplete. Appears to be pages 5 and 6 of a separate letter. Starkey mentions Gertrude’s birthday as the “day after tomorrow,” indicating it may have been written on April 19th. No year, filed under 1875. It is very cold where Starkey is, and he hopes Vineland will be warmer when he returns home next week. He doesn’t know that anyone except Mamma wants him to come home— in three weeks, he has only received one letter from his five children. He notes that the day after tomorrow will be Gertrude’s birthday. He is afraid of having to give up his baby, as she will soon “take [her] place in the ranks of the women of the land.” He regrets not having been more to Gertrude in her childhood, and he hopes their heavenly Father will make up for his deficiencies as a parent. He sends a “tearful blessing” and hopes Gertrude will remember that he has a “warm niche” in his heart for their firstborn child. Places mentioned: V (Vineland)