Cincinnati,
February 18th
1859

My dear Miss Lascelles, 

This evening I received your second letter and now hasten to reply to both, for should I let this hour pass it is quite uncertain when I could gain sufficient leisure for the agreeable employment. I am very glad to see you write so firmly and to hear from yourself you are in the enjoyment of good health. I am thankful to be able to tell you that we are all now having a comfortable show of health. Mamma and Pappa not suffering more from physical decay or as much as many persons of similar ages. Your letters always five us much gratification. You so kindly enter into detail for our pleasure that we all feel indebted to you. Now I must tell you or explain my rude silence. Time your letter reached me in Summer, Mamma was very sick, and obliged to leave for country air, therefore all duty devolved to me; and having pupils for music now in the city and at that time I was greatly hurried all Autumn and right up to the present.

As you make special enquiries about my doings. Since I left Piqua, I have remained at home and teach the juniors. I have not got many pupils but enough to justify me in staying at home, and father and mother need me about them as Nanny cannot see them as much as when she lived in the city. Yesterday she spent all day with us. She is better than she was. She had suffered much all Autumn from pain in her side. Her husband has been very successful in business. I am disappointed at not having an introduction to Bessie Parkinson's friend who took charge of her letter to Cincinnati. It was posted in the city and therefore we are perfectly ignorant of his headquarters or where we could find him.

Mama sits by me as I write and desires me say she began a letter on New Years day and has not courage to finish it yet. You did me but justice in supposing I was thinking of you on the commencement of 59 but had not time to tell you so. New years day is quite a joyous event in the United States. All the ladies are expected to remain in their own house ad to receive their gentleman visitors. I had more this year than any year. I had 20 visits from married and unmarried gentlemen. Still I am not likely to get settled. My own friends say it is my own fault, but I don't think so.

The religious excitement has worn off considerably. It is said Cincinnati was never so far steeped in wickedness. Nothing but robberies and murders. There have been several quite shocking of the latter. The lady with whom I resided as governess when I came first here is in great affliction from her third son, a young man aged 24 having stabbed a companion in a coffee house on Vine Street new years day. Mr Churchill who was stabbed and died three days after leaving a wife in confinement of her first baby, gave the first blow; of course the other resisted and then drew out a bowie knife which is quite a formidable weapon. Nearly every young man carries one to defend himself or a brace of pocket pistols. Mr Neff was condemned for manslaughter but made his escape south. His mother is one of the excellent of the earth and the entire family one of the leading ones in the city. His father is dead.

We heard nothing of Johnnie since. You can imagine our suspense. Scarcely an omnibus passes our quite street that does not start me hoping it may be his return. Oh what I would not give to meet him once again face to face and pour out my full heart to him. The only way we can hear from him is by writing to San Francisco and this at the end of three or four months. We heard he arrived in Australia safely, but this is all. Time perhaps will bring us all the news of him.

Willy smokes (!!) as I write and he bids me say he was disappointed you did not mention him. He desires me to enclose his card to you and wishes Joe Surch would write him and if he had Irish potatoes he could sell them quickly!! I am acquainted with some nice families in the city. Do write soon. Visit not sins of omission on me. We all bear you much gratitude and Nanny and I often talk of your many gentle kindness and attention to us and our loved Sarah. May we all meet above. Lifes battles with me hitherto has been trying. I desire to submit and to commit all to God. When this reaches you primroses, violets and early spring flowers will have begun to perk up their heads. I think of you very often. This has been an immeasurably damp sickly winter. Children have suffered from scarlet fever and in most cases it has proved fatal. Keeping the hearth stone and leaving that desolate which rejoiced in the gleesome laugh and prattle of infancy and childhood. I shall ask you to give my love to Joe Surch and Mrs Surch. Speak of me in your kind way to all enquiring friends. How are the Magraths and Campbells. Who is clergyman of Killough? Any of the Parkinsons going to marry. I hope they will. How is our garden flourishing. Do you read much. I get books in abundance. Have you seen "British hearts and hands". It is touchingly written. Write soon again and I shall try to be more punctual for the future. One thing let me assure you you are not forgotten we talk of you and think of you and love you much. With our kindest love I am my dear miss Lascelles, your attached,

Kate Rogan

Papa desires especially to be remembered to you and desires me to ask you to write often. K.R.