Letter, Andrew McDermott to Kate Gleason
A letter to Kate Gleason from her uncle, Andrew McDermott. McDermott tells Kate that if his father had not been a “scamp” and spent all his money, none of them would have to work. He alludes to a recent vacation of Kate’s and mentions someone who works with him, possibly a relative, who is temporarily apprenticing in the Gleason family machine tool shop.
Office of
A.Mc. Dermott
Manufacturer of
Artificial Limbs, Trusses,
Shoulder Braces, Abdominal Supporters, Crutches, &c.
No. 200 St. Charles St.
New Orleans Aug 17th 1887
My Dear Kate
Yours of the 10th just received. I suppose
you have settled down in earnest by this time. its an awfull
bad thing to be poor, if our ^Great Grandfather had not been such a
Scamp we would all have had plenty of money and no need of
work. it makes me Angery to think how he spent it all I suppose
your mother has told you all about it. it is a long story and
I have not time to write it out.
Well I am glad to know the boy is making an impression,
if only on your mother, it will be all right. don’t let any of the
Girls hit him to hard. I am glad to know you had such a
pleasant time during your vacation and hope it has been a
benefit to you all Mentally & Physically (two big words just copied
from the Dictionary) Well I hope Ched as you call him will be benefited
by this trip we need all the information he can gain You can’t imagine
the difficulties we labor under from a proper knollage of working
mettel and handling tools it is true we have a way of our own but
a very crued one. I would like to have the young man remain with
you for some time. but as things are now I cannot see how I can spare
him after the 1st of September. Work is coming in fast and I am getting
blocked up. We are all in the best of health. Love to you all. Your Uncle
A. McDermott