I've OCR'd it so you don't have to squint at the original unless you want to do so, or want to proofread it for me.
Dearest Mother:
You probably saw the local in the Dermott News last week and will not be surprised to learn that I am in Detroit. The situation briefly is that Homer has been working very hard for a good many months trying to organize a company and buy the plant indicated in the name on the letterhead. The former owners had gone into bankruptcy, but every one says they had a fine product and simply mismanaged.
Homer succeeded in completing a purchase through the federal court here in Detroit, but the people who had lost it were very bitter and set about trying to regain possesion by the most nefarious methods. A young man who had bought some stock in the new company, with the understanding he was to have the job of office manager, was found to be assisting the former owners in their dishonesty, so Homer asked me if I could come up here and work in the office, which was not yet very firmly established but he thought the worst was over and that it was a good business proposition.
So I came up here on March 17th. When I got here Homer had been sick for a few days but was some better and as soon as he could get me started in the office was going to make a business trip to New York and then was going to a hospital to find out what was the matter with him and try to get it cured. He left here last Friday about noon, was sick all the way to New York, entered a hospital there Monday and received very encouraging reports to the effect that he had been overworking, would have to ease up, etc, but they thought he would be able to be out again in a week or so. That was Monday morning. Tuesday night in the night he had another attack of whatever it was, involving his heart, and passed away early yesterday morning.
I know you will be shocked and grieved to receive this news. Homer asked about you and told me several times that it was his most earnest desire to get on his feet and get in position to do something that would really be of help to you. You will be gratified to know that he stood very high with the bankers, lawyers, federal court Judge, etc, with whom he had been dealing here, and had really made an excellent reputation for himself. He and his wife, Gwendolyn, were most devoted and I think the only real happiness Homer ever knew in marriage was with her. She went to New York with him. The funeral is to be there Saturday afternoon, March 29, and the body will be cremated.
I do not know the address of any of the rest of the family, but I think Abbott has Paul's address and I have written him to let Paul know. I suppose you can and will tell Aline and Alma.
I am not sure I have your correct address, but hope this will reach you promptly.
The Matlock's, who had lived in your house for nearly a year, moved out without notice just before I left. They were behind with the rent and the house is now vacant. I listed it with a young man there who is trying to sell some real estate and told him we would accept any reasonable offer. Have kept the insurance in effect and will manage someway to take care of the first quarter payment of taxes which is due now and becomes delinquent April 10th. The sewer tax is also due, and becomes delinquent Mar. 31st. I will take care of that and hope and pray we can sell the place soon.
I do not have any idea what my future plans will be. I had great confidence in Homer being able to make a success of this business, but now I am completely up in the air.
Mr. Schroeder, vice president of the company, lives in New York, and will come over here after the funeral. I should get a better idea of things from him some time next week.
I will receive mail at 3759 Bellevue, Detroit, (see letterhead) for the next week or so, anyway, and will try to write you again soon.
Homer and Gwendolyn went to Albion to see Aunt May and Marion on Sunday, March 9th. He took sick the next day . Marion phoned me last night and is driving down here tomorrow. It is about 90 or 95 miles, I think.
I hope you can make heads or tails of this letter. been under quite a strain and can't either type or think, much less do both at the same time.
Dearest love.
/s/Mabel
Abbott is at Dermott. I left a Negro girl to fix his meals and clean his room. He says he is getting along all right, but of course I feel anxious about him all the time.
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