Letter from David Evans to Children

Dowlais June 1874

Dear Children Ve)

I received your letter of April 7th the first of Mary and you may know that it made me very glad when I had it and read the contents of it but it gave me a little puzzle to solve, how to get money to undertake the journey for it requires a great sum for so long a journey as it is, but I should like very much if I could I would start the next week but what is the use of talking when a person have no means of himself nor no hope of them from no place but to be contented as I am the remainder part of any life where I am and as I am--

But you may depend that I would be so glad if I could come as you would be to hear that I am coming, but where is the means of coming because I have none myself, if I was to turn my face to my relation some of them that could assist me I should be nothing the better for they are to much for themselves, great deal all would be in vain and so then I have no other place to expect them unless things would turn out better than I do expect now, the times are present so unsettled with their strikes and everything that people don't know what to do most of them-- and we are great deal worst than we would be owing to that and everything so dear that people in general are worst off than they ought to be, and that all through mens foolishness half of Dowlais works now is at a stand still through the strike of the Engineers, the Coliers have begun to work again, they have been idling a little this year again and such things as these is every tradesman very much out of their way, and that's the way it goes on here at present that people do not know how to go on with their business and so you may no partly how it is with shoemakers that depends all upon other workmen, and so I have given you the whole account how it goes on here with us, as to me I can count myself very good that I do get my living at the age I am--

I have not been at Hirwaun this two months I think they'r all well there and so am I and I hope that you are all the same, I would have wrote back before this if was not for all the unsettled affairs in all the works about Gyfartha is most of it at a stand still at present and people idling and begging about, I do not know what will the end of things be not I but you may depend if I could any way that I would start as soon as I could and come and see how it is there with you and remain there to but I must conclude at this time and leave every thing as it is and to you to judge how things are going on here with us and more at present from your old Father.

David Evans

(yr hen gryd)