Handwritten letter from Mary Dover in Pittsburgh, PA to Pauline Starkey Wells. Dated: “July 8,” no year. Filed under 1878. 3 pages, double-sided. Crest of a rope wrapped around an anchor pressed into upper lefthand corner.

Contents: -remembrances of recent stay with Starkeys in Phila.; will especially miss morning worship, didn’t know such a perfect family existed, enjoyed “Gertie’s” angelic sphere & teaching, sorry she & Maria were so loud- hopefully Gertie & Paul are recovering -very glad she & Maria were assigned Starkey girls (Gerturde & Pauline) to corresponded with; glad Maria & Gertrude love each other so dearly -happy for Pauline that she has David (Lang?) to read with & loving Father to go to in all troubles -glad Pauline enjoyed holy supper sacrament; helps to prepare by reading -Pittsburgh Sunday school closed until September; Father V. (Vetterling) will stay through end of July for services -Social meeting at the Nest (Oaknest): Dr. Cowley picked them up, Mr. C. (Childs) read aloud parts of letters to/from various church members (Dr. Starkey, Mr. Reed, Mr. Hibbard, General Stuart, Bishop Benade) -At meeting, read Mr. Roeder’s Academy resignation w/ letter from Mr. Tafel, good riddance, not hard to guess who has been circulating false reports, Boston people don’t believe in conviviality, has Mr. Reed forgotten passages about conviviality in heaven?, Mr. Mathais letter to Mr. Henderson has strong collection of passages on subject -evening tea w/ Mrs. Pitcairn; Mr. Pitcairn arrived last Thursday & left Friday for week in Oil City, afterwards will remain in Pittsburgh until Fall -Cara shouldn’t worry that messages weren’t delivered; still looking for letter from George

Names mentioned: Gertie (Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn), Maria (Maria C. Hogan), Mr. C. (Walter C. Childs), Starkey (family), David (David Lang?), Father V. (Rev. H. C. Vetterling), Dr. Cowley, Dr. George R. Starkey (i.e. the “Stern Parent”), Mr. Reed, Mr. Hibbard (J. R. Hibbard?), the General (J. P. Stuart), the Bishop (W. H. Benade), Mrs. Pitcairn (Agnes McEwan Pitcairn?), Mr. P. (John Pitcairn Jr.?), Mr. Reador (Roeder?), Mr. Tafel, the A. (Academy), Mr. Mathias (Capt. Alfred Matthais?), Mr. Henderson, Cara (Cara Starkey Glenn), George (George G. Starkey) Places mentioned: the Nest (Oaknest: home of Walter C. Childs), Oil City, Boston, Phila. (Philadelphia)