Letter from J. Hughes Fisher to Ann F. Fisher & Sister, Dec. 23, 1894

Home. Dec. 23rd 1894.

Dear Mother and Sister

I have been quite busy for the last week or ten days investigating business propositions and still have two under consideration. I received the package by mail last Friday and have the items hid away for Christmas. My heart goes out toward you for the tokens of loving remembrance and the Sofa Pillow will support my head thro many an hour of rest. I usually sleep for an hour or two after dinner Sunday after my ushering duties of the morning and to rest up for the evening service. I enclose program for the S. S. Christmas entertainment this evening, Gracie is the only one who takes active part from my family as you will note. Christmas is almost here and the children have prepared a few presents for each other all simple and inexpensive becoming a man of large family out of work as Puck says the

only present he could afford this year was a surprise to his wife.

This is Marjories 5th birth day she stands on her toes to look big enough for the important occasion.

Faye has just laid aside her crutches after two weeks with sprained ankle from a too rapid rush downstairs, to answer the Postmans ring.

I still plan to come South during January if I do not go into business and I have already looked up Tarpon fishing tackle and find I will have to order same from New York if I go.

I had 49 answers to an add I put in Chi. Tribune, all brilliant schemes for making a fortune in a very short time. I looked up a few of them but became disgusted and dropped them all. I am to decide Wednesday if I will buy a majority of of Stock of a Mfg plant and take the office of Prest. and Treas. and principal owner. Manage the business from Chi with the Factory for making Plumbers supplies located in the Natural Gas Belt of Indiana. I think favorably of it. I regret to hear that the Portraits

arrived from Edgefield not in good order, but am so glad that the pictures were uninjured. Hughes wanted to send Mother the Christian Herald and I have consented to permit him to do so. I am weeding out the publications that we have had and keep only the best for 1895.

A package was mailed you yesterday from Gracie showing some of her work one piece, I forget which, she will write further and explain today, to go with this.

Hughes is doing too much work now that his assistant has gone and it hurts him to think the large increase of work should come with the decrease in salary.

Frank is making progress at Wilmarths, a customer that he drummed up bot $1300.00 bill yesterday. It is very hard for him to live on 8.00 per week and pay his expenses so we have relieved him from paying board and I help him out occasionally, he has used only 35.00 out of his $400. Dearborn money that I have had the greater part invested since he obtained it

about a year ago. If you remember this was from the 4 Shares of stock in the Dearborn that Emmett took out about ten years ago and made a few payments on it. This fund was intended for his college expenses, but unfortunately he cared nothing for a higher education did not even finish the High School course. Frank has, I'm glad to say, a better school knowledge than I have had, but not near enough to enable him to get the best of life. I am glad to know the figures of the footing at trade prices on the Flowers and especially that you are still pleased with them after going into the matter more carefully. I hope your money will come back to you many fold.

All of the girls will write today that can find the time, some of them are now at rehearsal for tonight. Faye presents May with Shakespears complete works illustrated ove 900 pages cost (40) forty cents, how is that for cheap.

Marjorie has a new dress today and says give Grandma & Auntie my love and a Kiss - she will have a birthday cake (made by Faye) for supper, it will have five lighted candles on it. With love and best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy new year from all at 4332 I am Son & Brother Geo. F. Fisher