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Rev G. W. Bradie
Dear Rev
I hear with sorrow of your loss—in Augt last I believe—of your young— est daughter Florence. I have myself been sick (away from the city. 2 mos) [start of line illegible] I probably should have known of your affliction before But it is not too late for sympathy, sorrow ^of^ parents—for children stricken a-way in early years—stays long in the heart. I have in the grave—in the brighter world, I shd say, five young children 4 boys—& 1 daughter—the latter my first born & know how to sympathize with yourself & Mrs Brodie—But Christ our divine Lord says "Suffer the little children to come to me —do not let us "forbid" them to go, for it is better for them to be of thy "kingdom ^of Heaven^",
[sideways on right side] not to think too hard of me I did what I could while in the Presidency—if my early speeches then made strong promises it was because then all our investments were in ^Govt^ Bonds—the [ever?] [afterwards?] was ^in^congress allowing, & we mellow? to [laws?] loans on Real estate—loans [scattered?] at different Branches & some of to be were, as you know, in a [herill?]—
[sideways on left side] Letter J. W. Alvord to G. W. Brodie Feb 10 1878
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I dont know how many you have left—train them all in the way to [expansions?] in the skies—we have three living—2 boys 14 & 17 years of age, & a daughter [raised?] & living in Chicago (Mrs John A Cole) ^with^ 2 grandchildren one a boy of 3 years & the other girl of 2 weeks (the mother "doing well)—so mercies come ^as^ years roll on—I am in my 67th year—68—the 18^th^ of Ap'l proximo—& you ^my brother^ getting on in years just as fast as myself I recall the [time?] [seen?] in Cincinatti—I was a teacher of a Col.d school & yourself one of my pupils, our pathways have ^since^ led in different directions—but we ^will be^, I trust, united in the journeys end you are I understand–still in the Bank doing ^what^ you can to save the depositers from any heavy loss, We should ^have^ done better to have gone on without commissions—& the heavy added expence—but the trustees last [mck?] thought best to have a change of officers & since that time I have only been helping what I could in an incidental way (without salary) Tell all Nashville