Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, Bit-Bu

Buffalo Mills, Pa. Dec. 16, 1901

Mrs. Stanford, San Francisco, Cal.

Dear madam. I am a farmers daughter seventeen years of age. and have read often about you being so good to the poor. and also part of you and your husbands life. and it has always been my desire to be a musician. and as my papa is not able to furnish me the money I thought it would be no harm in any shape or form to ask you for aid. If you will do any thing for me Mrs. Stanford, please let me know at once. I beg to remain yours, unknown. (Miss) Mae Brant Buffalo Mills, Pa. Bedford County

Union City Mich 12/24 - 01

Mrs Jane L Stanford San Francisco Cal

Dear Madam

Beging [sic] your pardon for the liberty I take in writing you. But knowing you to be a lady of culture and wealth would like to state my purpose in writing. I have a very talented young lady Daughter that finishes next year in our graded school the school is on the University List would like to have her go through the State University but am penniles [sic] and powerless to send her farther. I have an invalid

Mother to take care of and my Wife's health is poor and I am unable to do Physical labor. My Dear Lady if you would kindly send me {you dft ?} for $2,000 to provid [sic] for the necesities [sic] of lif [sic] and get my Daughter through the University you would for ever be a God Mother to my family. All I have to secure you with is my Insurance Policy of $2,000 in the A O U W of which I am a member of good standing I would gladly make you the Beneficery [sic] of the Policy and send it to you, or if you had any position you could give me to earn the money I would

gladly do it. Please do not { ?} this to the waste basket without careful consideration and should you think me a Fake please write the Tower Bro of this place the most reliable business from here and ask them if I am worthy of assistance. You might say why dont [sic] some one here assist me my wife and Daughter would not ask nor take assistance from any one here they would sooner die in the Almshouse they are ignorant of this letter and should you help my daughter through Colege [sic] it would be then that I would let her know who her Benefactor was.

And should you ever come east would be only to glad to have you stay and see us it will be then that you will be proud of your act of Charity

I remain Very Respectfully

E. H. Brooke Box 691