This is a letter I have in my possession that was written April 16, 1891 from Samuel Tupper to his daughter Cynthia Amelia (Tupper) Tait. I found this among other letters written to Bertha Evelyn (Tupper) Conroy, Samuel's granddaughter. At the time the letter was written, Samuel and Martha were living with their son Robert, his wife Elizabeth Tupper, and their daughter Bertha. Amelia was living in Dartmouth. Perhaps the letter was not sent?
Aside from the long description of his health issues, this letter shows that Samuel seems quite proud of his family, doesn't it?
I will scan the letter soon and put it up here, but in the meantime, here's the transcription I made for myself (I copied it as is, line breaks and spelling intact, but there could always be mistakes):
April 16 /91
Middle Stewiacke
Dear Amelia
it is some time
since I wrote to you I been
wanting to write for some
time but never got it done
We have been unwell this
some time but thanks be to
the giver of all good we have
got quite as well as ordinary
again, three weeks ago I took
an unusual soreness in my
breast for 2 or 3 days then it worked
down into my bowels and I was
pretty bad I had two very bad
nights I could not lay still and
it hurt me dreadfull [sic] to turn so
I had a pretty hard time
then my bowels got easier but
I could not sit up on end for
2 or 3 days it was just like running
a stake up through me but it
all got better then one mourning [sic]
when I awoke my face felt stiff
and my nose was sore just felt as
if it was smashed right into my
face my face and nose were swelled
and was red as blood and I
felt pretty bad. It was [unintelligible]
but has got quite well now.
I think it was La grippe first and
then [unintelligible] and all round
I had a pretty hard time
but I never felt sick I ate three
meals every day I was not
out of bed only to get it made
for a week or more and
Mother was not well either
only for Robert I dont know
what would have come of us
he is the best nurse ever I seen.
he knows every thing you want
and just knows how to fix it
they are both as kind as can be
I feel as if I could not be thank
full enough we are so comfortable
I had a paper from Tait this week
he said he was coming home that
I suppose he is home now I
hope he is and that you are all
well he said he would soon see
me I hope he will we would
all be very glad to see him.
how is little Milly Hannah told
us she was not well I was
down to Brocks 3 or 4 weeks ago
Hannah is very proud of her
house and her girls. I had a letter
from Maggie this week
Flora was home when I
was there I seen the great
grandson never was such a
Baby before. He is a fine boy
they were just about starting for
the station when I got there to
go home
Mother is hearty to her
victuals and sleeps well but
she is loosing her mind every
day she asks me every day where
Sammy is tells me what Sammy
said had a great spell with her
Brocke was here after he went
away she wanted to know who he
was I told her he was her son and Rob
[unintelligible] too what is the good of telling me
such stuff as that she never suckled
that man I am afraid she will go
wild altogether. write soon you dont
know how glad we are to hear from you
Father