Thomas T. Williams to Mrs Rees and her orphan and sorrowing little children:

I grieve very much to think of the misfortune that has overtaken my old friend Caleb, & of your sad position as a consequence. I hope you are well and able to manage affairs for your support and comfort. Doubtless your position is a very sad one and your burden very heavy, but dear sister I have great confidence that you are trusting to the One who bringeth light-out-of darkness & who said: "Come unto me all ye that are weary & heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Dear Sister, I would very much like to have been there at the time of the illness & death of so dear a friend & so true a neighbor as your beloved husband to extend a helping hand to him in his great suffering and to shed a tear of sympathy at his grave side.

Beleive me, his memory is dear and sacred to my heart.

I never saw his like for his powers of understanding & mind. He was a giant in intelligence - a child in innocence - and notable in industry. He loved the truth and hated deceit, he was a friend to virtue and a strenuous enemy to hypocrisy. This was the cheif cause of all his numerous sorrows and temptations at Minersville. But praise be to heaven, I have every hope of him & that he is now in the land of eternal peace, where there is no pain or cross or sorrow.

(Porton of a hymn follows)

We as a family are well at present, but we are not wholly comfortable. For one reason the work has been at a standstill for nearly two months, & there is no knowing when it may start again. Also a reduction of two cents per bushel for cutting coal has taken place all through this district. But there is no reduction in the prices of food, but rather an increase. Flour is 14 dollars per barrel butter from 45 cts to 50 cents the pound, meat from 10 to 25 cents the pound.

Thomas Evans has moved from our house to Minersville. James, their son, is at Cincinnati. John James talks of coming down here soon, he is now at the Eymaufor at Pittsburg. Many families have gone from Coalport to New Cambria Missouri, & the Rev. John Williams is going next week. There is more talk here now than ever about emigrating to the west.

Remember us many times to the little children & to Henry Jones and his kind family. I will be glad to hear from you without long delay.