This is a letter I have in my possession that was written May 14, 1889 from Samuel and Martha Tupper to their 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. I don't know why it was back in Bertha's possession.
I'm not sure who Aunt Betsy is. Samuel had an aunt Elizabeth on his father's side, but she would have been really old (almost 100), so it probably wasn't her. Maybe Martha had an Elizabeth in the family. The Jane he refers to is Jane Bentley, Lizzie's older sister. Jane was living with Robert and Lizzie in 1901, and may have been as early as this letter (or she might have just been visiting, as both of her parents were still alive in 1889). Samuel apparently didn't think much of her.
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):
Middle Stewiacke May 14 /89
Dear Amelia
We got your letter
all right were [sic] glad to hear from
you that you are all well and
that Mr Tait has got home all safe
We are quite well Mother had one
of them turns Sabath [sic] day quite light
I noticed her when I came from
Church after dinner I got her to go
to bed, she was better Monday morning
and smarter by dinner time than she
has been this good while – we have
reason for to be thankfull [sic] that we
are so well. I was going to plant
potatoes to day but its raining I going
to have a larger garden this year and
that is all the farming I will do
We are very glad that you are coming
up so soon tell Tait to not forget to come
I want to see him very much
Sarah was here about a month ago
and little Martha I went after
her and took her home again it
was awfull [sic] roads. I will go to Brookfield
for you if possible but if it is dry I
fear Robert may want the horse he has
no one to help him and he has all the
manure to haul to near the river I dont
pretend to do much he works my place
on the Share’s he is very kind to us and
Lizie is very kind I think more of her ever day
I am afraid Robert will work to [sic] hard I wish
old Jane was out of this she is no help
I think Mother is just about as well as
she was when you was here last
Sarah cleaned the lower part of the house
and white washed the ceiling and Lizie and
her papered the kitchen & Lizie and Jane
cleaned up stairs so we are all cleaned up
but the porch and I mean to go at that some
of those days. I was to see Harriet and Aleck
they are very poorley [sic] she is the poorest &
oldest looking woman I ever seen she
cant stand on her feet nor him either
I dont think either of them will stand it
very long it was hard work for me to go but
I am very glad I went. John was here when
we got your letter he looks like another man
Christie is not very well Mother & I were
to see aunt Betsy a while ago she is not very
well. I am counting the days till you come
yours truly Father & Mother
tell Tait to say what day he will come and if I cant go for you perhaps I can go for him