On verso: "To my son. To urge you to close attention to business, to economy and sobriety, to be good and do good in Christian faith, to work hard and always to keep up a good heart and hope for the work that is before you."

"The History of the Above Writing by Richard Yates [II]. One day, in 1903, I sat in the quiet office in the Mansion provided by the State of Illinois, for its Governor, when, all of the sudden, one of the secretaries came to me and said: 'Do you happen to have in this room a blank book? We need one for some of our work, and need it now. Of course we can send to a store and buy one. But time is precious, perhaps you have one here.' I replied, 'In that corner, over there, you will find a pile of large blank books, left by my Father. They are forty years old, but some of them have excellent paper.' Presently, the secretary returned and said: 'May we have this one? It suits our purpose.' I replied, 'Yes, but let me be sure it is blank.' I rapidly turned the pages, and lo, in the very center of the book, was a page with writing on it - the only page in the whole book which was not blank. Of course I read it, for it was in the handwriting of my Father, dead and gone for thirty years- his death having occurred in 1873, when I was only 13 years old. Here is what that writing said; here it is, as he wrote it, framed by me, after I had cut it out."

"I know not whether this was written about 1863, when I was little and he was thinking much of me; or whether it was written about 1853, when his second son was little, and he was thinking much of him; or whether it was written about 1843, when his first-begotten son was small; the idol of his young manhood. But this one thing I do know; it was addressed 'to my son'; and so I have the right to take it and appropriate it to myself. How like a message from beyond the grave; aye, even from the realms of light, it seemed to me, that day! It still seems so. I love to believe and do believe, that no one saw these words until I did; that he was sitting alone, in that midnight hour, which brings that rare and radiant moment, when the wrought-up brain conveys high thought to shining pen; and that he wrote these words, and then closed the book, and wrapt the curtains of his couch around him, and laid him down to pleasant dreams -- and that the next eye to behold these lines was mine."

"So help me, it has always seemed like an Oath of peculiar sanctity, administered to me in a sacred way, and when ever I read it, I feel as if I stood on the Holy Ground, and that I must, as I do, answer: 'Father, my Father, I have read and I understand, and I promise and vow, to keep the Faith."]]>
Photo caption: "Residence of Ex Governor Richard Yates East State St. Jacksonville Ills."]]>
An article related to the event and attached to the photograph verso reads, "Queer Election Bet; As a result of an election bet on the outcome of the primary held at this place Saturday, Geo. Kennedy is to have a ride about town at the expense of George Eells. If the town went for Yates for governor, George Eells agreed that Mr. Kennedy should hitch him up with a jackass in a cart and drive the two about town carrying a banner: one side to have the words 'Two of a kind,' printed upon it, while the other side was to contain the words, 'more sand than sense.' The reverse would have happened had Lowden carried the town. Well, you may bet the bet will be carried out on the part of Mr. Eells without a kick on his part. If there is any kicking done at all it will be by Mr. Eells' partner in harness that day. Mr. Eells and Mr. Kennedy have decided to have the affair come off tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock on Main street and every one is invited to be eye-witnesses. You will miss a hearty laugh if you fail to be on hand. These two gentleman have made several other bets on different occasions and Mr. Eells has won his bet every time; but he says he finally got the worst of it in the end, but he is a man who will take his medicine."]]>
On verso: "Ill. Gov. 1861-65."]]>