Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, P - Q

could, more than make my board under present circumstances, except to cook and scrub for some well to do family, and I know full well that my strength is not sufficient for that, and I need to make all I possibly can, for besides what I have mentioned, I need some clothes as I have stayed at home all winter, have not gone to church but once on account of not having clothes to wear to church even here in the country.

Could you direct me to any kind of work at which I could receive good compensation? If you could give me such information it would be greatly received.

Believing that God will

help me through one of His followers — one that is blest with this world's goods, I will draw this to a close still living on hope.

Do not turn me away with out one word of comfort. Please write to me at least.

Your picture lies here before me on the little pine table and I often look at it wandering by. To me it looks like the face of a noble lady indeed, though a stranger.

All this I have written confidentially and I hope it will in no way be an insult, but I hope to hear from you soon.

A poor and unknown girl,

Miss Dovie Mae Patterson

Dec 14th 1901

Mrs Stanford

I have been reading of your wonderful liberality, and think it is so grand and good for you to be able & willing to do so much good and I presume you like all other rich people have lots of begging letters and I know must be very annoying. Now I am not going to beg but will you please listen to a little of my situation. I am a woman over 60 and I have a farm of 67 acres but had to mortgage it, times were hard and it cost so much for help. There is a mortgage of $900 on it but the one holding it is my aunt by marriage and she wants the money and says if I will raise her $600 she will relieve me of all obligation. Now I wish some one was able to let me have that amount without interest and let me pay the interest and apply it to the principle every year untill it was paid, or more if I could get it

then in time (if I live) I would have a home in my old age. Now I dont wish to critisize [sic] any ones giving. I know they each have a right to do as they are a mind, but I sometimes feel some such little help I ask for would be more when weighed in the balance than some great gift.

Now I have stated facts & can send you plenty of proof of the genuineness of this letter, I am yours respectfully

Mrs. G. C. Palmer

Clinton N Y

Carrier #2

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Sept. 5 1899

Mrs. Leland Stanford,

Palo Alto, Cal.

Dear Madam, It may seem presumptious in me, only a hard-working little mother, to address you; but since you also have experienced maternity, you must have a heart. Therefore I fear not, but approach you on the sacred ground of motherhood.

Ever since I saw your face pictured among the pages of "Success" I have been haunted by a desire to write to you. That desire has been wrestled with, put down, battled with again and again only to present and assert itself more tenaciously than before.

It is my wish to know more of the school so nobly founded at Palo Alto, Cal., to know more of its faculty, its rules and its advantages offered to young men.

I have three bright, nice boys whose future is my anxiety. We wish to give them every opportunity, but our means are limited. How I wish that they may grow up in the shadow of such an institution and when old enough,