October 7, 1898
To: Nancy Brown, Kalamazoo, MI
From: Henry Brown, Chicago, IL
Business has not been good, mainly because the weather has been rainy. When business gets dull he will move and start another place and when that plays out he will go somewhere else and try to make enough to live on.
1898-10-07 Henry Brown to Nancy Brown
Chicago Oct 7 1898
Dear ones at home
Lela[1] is writing all the news I suppose so I will just say how business is. It is a dark rainey day here and no bussiness so far to day have made 12 only. Last Sunday was a corker only made 80 all day. The wether has been good part of the time since and busnes fair from 600 to 1000 per day until to day. I will send you check for 6000 that will leave just 40000 in bank and I have got enough cash on hand to pay help tomorrow and perhaps will take in a little but if this weather continues all I can possibly do is to pay expenses and we will have to cut them down some to do that. I hope Sunday will be a pleasant day for that is our strong pull and hope – unless Sunday is pleasant will let one of the girls go. It seems good to have Lela here and she could not have come in better time for us as it is so dull. We have got caught up with our work now and this is the first day since we came to Robey St that the girls have not had any mounting to do – this their bum day and they are having all kinds of sport. The 4 are here now. I have decided not to make any cabinets[2] and when business gets dull enough I will moove and if Ed dont sell and come as I have offered him will start another place any way before long and when it plays out here will go east or somewhere where there is a chance and try to make enough so I can live while it lasts and maybe it will last as long as I do. Hope so any way. There is no money in cabinets any way or in long work either.
Love to all
H A Brown
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[1] Their daughter, Lela Brown
[2] A style of photograph which was widely used for photographic portraiture after 1870. It consisted of a thin photograph mounted on a card typically measuring 41⁄4 x 61⁄2 inches
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 