"And may I, Uncle William?" he added quickly, for he had almost taken his uncle's permission for granted.
Uncle William nodded; and Mr. Howe said, "You may never get it back, you know."
"I think I shall," answered Jonathan confidently. "And anyway I want to help Mr. Howe."
"Do you want to send it now?" inquired Mr. Howe.
Elias Howe
"If you please," replied Jonathan.
"Then you may write your letter here, while your uncle and I go for a walk."
Spencer, Mass.,
15th 9th mo., 1849.Mr. Elias Howe, Jr.,
Cambridge, Mass.My dear Mr. Howe:—
Perhaps thee remembers the boy who saw thee run a race with thy sewing machine against five seamstresses over Quincy Hall Market four years ago. Thy uncle told me of the hard time thee has had since. I am very sorry. I want to buy a sewing machine and I want to help thee. I am sending thee five dollars. It is all the money I have. I hope thee will use it to win thy suit. Sometime when thee sells sewing machines, I hope thee will sell me one for my mother five dollars less than the usual price. Thee can see thee will not have to pay this back for a long time, for it will be a good many years before I shall have money enough to buy a sewing machine.
Thy friend and well-wisher,
Jonathan Wheeler