5/7/16.
Davenport, Fla.

My Dear Sister,

Again I am about to write you after a long delay. I am sure you will overlook it for you should be used to them by this time.

I feel somehow that your attitude in your recent letter was not in keeping with your actual [disposition]. Now little girl don't [lose] heart and consider that fate has dealt you a blow for this affair

is surely going to be settled and before long I hope.

You are not doing yourself justice when you stay around there with Geo., so let me offer a few suggestions. As I already said financial conditions will not permit me giving you [much] help right now. I think you ought to leave that hell hole and I want you to but we have got to play it safe and aim for something better. Now how does this strike you.

Have you ever thought of any vocation you like to take up so as to be [independent] such as a [business] woman, [nursing] or some such, you will have a better idea than I as to the line you [prefer]. You are not too old to begin so [don't] worry on that score. It is quite possible that I can be able to help you out if you should so decide to go to some school. We will presume such to be the case. Take [nursing] for instance (provided you should decide on that) I believe a three years apprenticeship would fit you to earn a [salary] of $20 per or around that

I can [probably] furnish your [tuition] and [textbooks] and you could work for your board at the [college]. Of course this is only an example -- there is poultry farming and things of that order if you [prefer] to be your own boss but such have the difficulty of being [wholly] [dependent] on [one's] self and also require some [little] money at the start.

You will have a better idea of what you would like than I so think it over and let me know, then we will get [information] and go about it right.

My idea is this -- to get on a

suitable [occupation]. Then make a success of it. You have lost too [much] of life to make any more failures -- (I mean to have them forced upon you) That is why I want to start right.

I [don't] believe in being in the clinging vine class. Women can and should be [independent] of men, and I am sure you can do it. I [don't] mean to make you a man hater for there are some good men, and in getting loose from the bondage you now are in you would

have opportunities which might prove your happiness. There is nothing I would like better than to see you happy. I have great ambitions myself and want to work my way through school but I would forget them all if I could help you out.

[Perhaps] I have painted the picture pretty bright if so let me say that it is going to take an effort on your part. I [can't] do it all for you as [much] as I would like to. You

realize that [don't] you? But I believe that between us we can find a way to something better for you. [Perhaps] in a few years we would have [accumulated] enough down here in Florida (depending how the homestead develops) so you could come here but as I said before you [wouldn't] be satisfied. [Don't] take it that you [wouldn't] be welcome tho[sic].

If you have ever considered anything like I have mentioned, tell me about it. If not tell me what you have thot[sic] of.

The [foregoing] has merely been suggestions if they [don't] appeal to you we will find something that will. But remember there are very few cinches in this world.

Let me hear from you soon.
Always.
Bro. Algy