[Thomas Waters to his brother Benjamin]
June 19th 1856
Dear Ben
I received your letter and Mary’s yesterday and am glad to hear that your prospect is improving and am much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to answer my questions. But somehow I still think we will live together before many years for even should you make 50£ per year it will take some time before you can own your own house and land. A man with a portion of money and health can live comfortably and be independent in Nova Scotia whereas in England he would be merely living. I am not trying to persuade you or advise you but “Unity is strength” and if we could both live together no matter in what country why we could help one another. I hope you will write me to Australia every mail for three months. After I leave here I will give you the direction. I received a letter from Amy and all at home are well but Amy is very much dissatisfied about my going to Australia and is very uneasy. Mary writes me that she intends keeping house for Aunt while they visit. Who will keep house for you while Mary visits – I hope she will not leave you alone. Tell Mary I am much obliged to her for her letter and news and hope to hear from her again soon. Some day perhaps we will all travel on our own land in our own waggon or on our own legs, have our own house, our own orchard, our own garden and our own trout brook to fish in.
With love to Jinny and Nancy and to Mary & you
I remain
Your affectionate Brother
Thomas