As we are unknown to each other, I think that the best thing for me to do first is to introduce myself to you. I am your Cousin the third daughter of your Uncle Stephen Rees the brother of your father but I am not at home since two years. I am with my Aunt a sister of my mother as a housemaid in a farm called Carnmeini about two miles from home, and I like my place and my work well. Last time I visited home I saw your kind and unexpected letter and I read it with deep interest. They were very glad to hear form you, for "as cold water to a thirsty soul so is good news from a far off land," and I am taking it for granted that you will not take it unkind in me to trouble you with a few lines.

Though I have not seen you yet I have heard about you and many times I have listen with affection on my father saying about his brother Caleb when he was a young man in this country, and also about the fatal accident that put an end to his life in America, but he has not dead but gone before, my father always said that Caleb was the best of his brothers. I thought that a brief account of our history will be receivable with you. We were twelve children all[,] but one has dead an infant the eleven others are living and are in good health and spirits as far as I know at present. My eldest brother Daniel has married and has two children and he has settled at Crewe England, he is the Chief Reporter to the Crewe Guardian he has not visited home since he married, he is so busy and his work is so particular that he could not leave it even for a day. My brother Caleb 19 yrs of age is at Chester a reporter to the Chester Guardian. He visited home last August and he was in good health and he likes his work nicely, he cannot stay home more than a week or else he would lose his place. They both are good scholars and are doing well.

Two others of my brothers named William and Jacob has married and have settled in a small farms close by and Jacob have a little son named Caleb.

Elizabeth my sister is at Newcastle Emlyn Carmarthenshire a housemaid with our cousin. She has been four years at Cheltenham England as a parlour maid, with a gentleman and four ladies, but she was kept in too much and her health broken up and she was adviced to go home a while and she did and I am glad to say that she is now in good health and is able to do her duties. only about 15 miles she is from here and we are waiting her here to morrow. she is 23 yrs old.

My eldest sister Mary is at home with our parents and four other children, the youngest are 7 yrs old her name is Etta, the namesake of her cousin in Columbus. My parents have enjoyed very good health since they married and they have lived very happy together. We all except three have the honour of remember our Creator in the days of our your youth and have found a place in His house and a name among His people and we trust that the others though very young are on the way and their faces right towards Zion and that they would very soon take His yoke upon them and learn with Him. Our cousins the children of Uncle John are in good health and have married all except one.

My father told me that he had answer your letter directly and I hope that you have it by this time.

I should like very much to see you is it not possible for you to come over to see us if you will come we will make our best to you to make you comfortable and happy People do not seem [to take] half as much to sail across the Atlantic now as they were in the time when your father sailed to America, you would not be more than seven days on the sea and after you reach Liverpool you can see by the map of England & Wales that there is not a very long way from there to Pembrokeshire but if you not seem your way clear to come over here please to send me your photographs and I will send my photo to you by the earliest convenience after I have an opportunity to have mine taken.

When you write next to our cousin in Columbus please give my best respects to her and her dear mother and tell her that a letter now and then would be very receivable.

This little ribbon I enclose is from my testament as a small token of affection and I want you to put it in your Sunday School Testament and every time you see it remember your cousin in Wales.

Please to excuse by incorrect English for I am very defective in English-writing I prefer Welsh a great deal I hope that you would understand it all. Give my fondest love to Auntie and Cousins and accept a great deal of it your dear self

I have no more at present, write back soon with all news. Beleive me your affectionate and faithful cousin.