221 Vine St Cincinnati
February 12th 1861

My dear Miss Lascelles,

As I am writing to Bessie Parkinson I cannot close her letter for the mail without expressing my anxieties to hear directly from yourself. I heard from Bessie you were well, but this is not much satisfaction to interested and anxious friends. How have you spent he winter? Are you able to go out at all? or is there any fresh accession to the society in Killough? If not I am sure it must be intensely lonely and stupid. Now that I have been away so long I wonder how persons with common sense can do such injustice to their children as to compel them to live where they are. So few stimulants to exertion or progress of any sort. Is Mr West still incumbent of Killough. Are the Despards there also. I wrote to you a long time ago and since got no answer, pray my dear miss Lascelles do not let this remain unanswered. We are all most deeply interested in hearing from you. We are all quite well. Mamma has "renewed her strength like the eagle" and I heard singing like a lark (not for sweetness but for buoyancy) a few days back. Papa drives into town every day to business and leaves at 3'clock. I have not seen Nanny look so well for a long time and she is so in reality. I am just the old cut only getting grey under my hair on my temples. I do not look so young as Nanny, as Willy says I have had a hard life, more sickness, longer bearing the wear and tear of the world without a husband to share my sorrows and divide my joys. Do you go to Belfast often? How I wish you were here in Cincinnati. We have had no direct intelligence from Johnny for four years. At Xmas we heard he was alive and we try to quiet ourselves by thinking and hoping the wished for, and longed for, letter will come yet. Nanny and I often talk of you and regret our minds had not matured enough to appreciate all the excellencies of your character when we knew you, or rather before we left you. Your many acts of disinterested kindness to us I trust the God of Love will restore fourfold into your own heart filling it with all joy and peace and rest in believing. Have you pleasure in working and reading yet. To me there is no enjoyment like either. I have two very valuable libraries at my command besides instructive Sunday School books in abundance. I am embroidering a chemise, hands and sleeves, just now. Now in the clipping off time and reading the life of Charles James Knox (Fox?). This letter is to provoke one form you, so pray my dear miss Lascelles do not disappoint me. Tell me every little thing about yourself and exactly how you fill up the day. I was in Walnut Hills on Sunday, all well and if they knew I was writing. I should be commissioned with many messages of love. Accept mine warm and true and believe me my dear miss Lascelles yours affectionate and attached

Kate Rogan

Address
Kate Rogan
care of Dr R.J. Newton
221 Vine Street
Cincinnati
Ohio