New York, for what reason I do not know further than that he said he only was going there till we came that he might go with us, as he felt sure when I saw New York that I should not stop in it, and that if we would not go with him, he should then have gone by himself. I felt very vexed with him at leaving, and tried to persuade to stop but it was no use, so Fred and me took him under our care and got our boss to take him where he is now learning the harness making. I guess he will get about 20 Dollars a year he being hardly an inch taller than he was at home. When you return an answer direct to me at Mr. Apples Boot and Shoe Store 8 Empire Block B—— Onoydaga County State of New York. They don’t say streets, but call them Blocks, and they _guess_ they don’t _think_ here so I suppose that I shall get a regular Yankee in time. It is tremendous hot here now, and I feel it so when at work very much. Tell Mr. Slade that I will write him a letter _soon_. I get 2_s._ 6_d._ english money a week or 30 Dollars a year of this, board lodging and washing which is pretty fair wages here for boys, learning pegged work, the general pay being 15 or 18 dollars a year, but as we had learned the other work our boss gave us thirty, (boss here is what they call the Master in England) Fred and Churn gets the same wages, as me, you must give all our best loves and wishes to all the School children, and we hope that they will all value their learning, which they will find will be a blessing and comfort to them hereafter. You can tell them that I often think of them when I sit at work and that I almost fancy that I am in the old shop once more hearing their voices as they say their lessons showing how strong fancy leads us back again to old familiar scenes, I hope that God will bless and prosper them all in this life, and that he will take them to his everlasting home is the fervent prayer of John Jones. Give our love to all kind friends at home, for so I am bound to call it, and receive the same yourself with Mrs. W—— and Harriet. “From yours ever affectionate pupils, “J. J., J. H. C., and F. J.” Before reception into the Duck Lane School, all these boys had been thieves. J. J. had lived by plunder for seven years; J. H. C. had been a thief from early childhood; and F. J. from the age of five years. * * * * * _On the 20th inst. will be published, price 5s. 6d., neatly bound in Cloth_, THE FIRST VOLUME OF “HOUSEHOLD WORDS,” _Containing Numbers 1 to 26_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES Page Changed from Changed to