"You were so kind as to tell me to write to your ladyship if we werein any difficulty or distress, and I have often longed to do so, but mybrother always said that we had no right to trespass on your goodness.Now, however, things are at such a pass that I think you will hear of uswith true compassion. I do not know whether he told you that we metmy poor mother on board a steamer upon this lake. Her husband had beendrowned in a wreck while crossing, and she was reduced to great poverty,and had also, from exposure, contracted disease of the lungs, which,the doctor said, must terminate fatally in a few months. My brothertook charge of her, and has supported us ever since, now four months,by working at the editorship of the Lacustrian Intelligencer, with suchsmall assistance as I could give by music lessons. It involved severelabour at desk work and late hours, and his health has latterly givenway, his back and lower limbs being gradually affected, and lastMonday even his hands proved helpless. My poor mother broke anotherblood-vessel on Sunday, and died ten minutes later. My brother desiredme to sell his dear violin and his watch to pay the funeral expenses,but after that I know not what we can do, as he is quite helpless, andcan hardly be left even for the sake of my small earnings. Dear LadyTravis Underwood, pray help us, as I know you and Sir Ferdinand love mypoor dear generous brother, and will not think him ungrateful for havingdeclined your kindness while he could support himself and us. No doubtwe shall get help from England, but not for some time, so I dare to askyou.
"I remain, your humble servant,
"LUDMILLA.
"P.S.--Everybody knows him as Jerry Wood. We are at Mr. MacMahon's, 14Huron Street."
This sad letter, in Lida's neat pupil-teacher's hand, came enclosedwithin a longer letter from Marilda.