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Portage, Wis., July 23rd, '95. My dear brother John: Sarah came in yesterday and gave me quite a surprise in the form
of twenty-five dollars from yourself. She said you had been minded to send the same by a letter you had seen of mine. Now
I did not realize that there was anything in that letter to Maggie (for I have not written to anyone else in Cal.) which would
bring forth such results. But when we were children at school, our teacher used to say that when Joanna tried to look serious
she knew there was some fun going on, so maybe it works vice versa likewise, and when I think I appear reasonably cheerful,
something else is more apparent. Well be that as it may, your kindness was very acceptable, and it was not difficult to decide
how to make use of the money. When I was sick all the time in the years gone by, I used often to wonder if the time would
ever come when I could look calmly back and talk about the time when I used to be an invalid, and the time did come. So now
I often wonder if the time will ever come when I can look serenely back to the time when I was in such straits because of
poverty, and I think if that time does come, and it surely most, I will think of some way to shew my appreciation of your
present kindness to myself and the children, other than simply by thanks. However this may be, you will have your reward
for there is One greater than we, who has promised that as ye measure to others it shall be measured to you again. May your
trip to the mountains be all you could wish. Farewell, with love, Joanna Muir Brown