Marie chen [Lydia Maria Child] ALS (incomplete) to [Anna Loring?], [after October 10, 1871]

and very handsomely dressed mulatto girl
came here to ask the loan of a hundred
dollars to learn to play on the organ.
She was quite offended when I told her
she could earn 3 dollars a week as a
chambermaid, and need spend but one;
and that if she tried that process for a
year, she would have a hundred dollars
of her own earning. What is to come of
this universal contempt of labor, I know
not. The worst of it is, it is constantly
increasing, while the demands of society
are growing more and more complica-
-ted.

I wish I could
hug and kiss you and your little ones,
this blessed day; but I must be content
with hugging and kissing you in my
heart.

Uncle David has been quite
seriously ill, but has recovered. He sends
"lots of love" to you all.

God bless you and your dear ones!
Your affectionate old Marie chen.