Lowell Mill Girl Letters

                      Great Falls³ Nov the 17th [1858-1862]⁴

Dear Mary

      acording to agreement I now seat myself to pen a few lines to you to let you know how I am prospering I have at last arrived Great Falls and am now in my little chamber surronded by these walls only but my mind is far away from here it is with you I wish that I was near enough to you so that I could run in and see you this evening and have a long chat with you - I arrived here last Wenesday and went to work thursday I like in the Mill first rate but I don't like my boarding place very well there is 19 or 20 in famely I have to go up three flights of stairs to get to my chamber and then sleep alone. I don't like it at all I don't think I shall stay here my life time if I do it will be short.

 When they changed cars for Great Falls I did not understand them and they carried me to North Berwick⁵ where Charles is to work and I stayed

^{1 Sarah Jane Eddy Page born: 1830, Massachusetts; parents: John T. and Sarah Page; married 1864: Lambert Jackson b: 1828 Manchester, England.} 

^{2 Mary Elizabeth Manson born: 1837, Massachusetts; parents: David and Jane F. Manson; married 1854: John S. Crocker; residence 1860: Salisbury, MA.} 

^{3 Great Fall, New Hampshire now Somersworth, New Hampshire.} 

^{4 Although there is not a complete date on this letter, it was written between 1858-1862.} 

^{5 North Berwick, Maine.} 

all night with my cousin they gave me a ticket so that ride did not cost me anything. I went into the mill to see Charles and I saw the overseer in the weaving room he wanted me to stay there and go to work, but I 
thought as my baggage was all at G. Falls that I would come back here but if I can't get into a private family to board I shall go there now for I am dreadful homesick here I like the place and I like my work but I don't like this little attic.

 The small pox⁶ is raging in Dover⁷ I understood that they had stoped all the mills and meetings and schools on acount of it there is 30 or 40 cases of it I do not know of any more to write to night it is most 
ten o clock and I guess I must close my letter by bidding you good night be sure and write as soon as you get this for I shall want to know if you get it give my love to your man⁸ and all the rest of the folks direct your letter to Great Falls NH when you write tell me Charles has got home.

                       From your affectionate 
                       cousin 
                       Sarah J. Page 
 

[on cover] 
Mrs. Mary E. Crocker 
Salisbury Point, Mass.

^{6 Smallpox Epidemic in New Hampshire about 1858.} 

^{7 Dover, New Hampshire.}

^{8 John S. Crocker born: 1831, Salisbury died: 30 Sep 1873, Salisbury, Massachusetts; married 1854: Mary Elizabeth Manson.}