Sarah A. Mason to Richard Yates

With Simon Hirshbach letter 12/28/63

Vandalia Ills Jan 12th 64

His Excellency R Yates

Sir

I had the honor this morning of receiving a communication from your Excellencies private Secretary Supposed to contain a Charitable donation of $20.00 from your Excellencies private purse & after dilligent Search failed to find the Supposed $20.00 I am no object of Charity Could I only get an installment of what is justly due my husband for verry arduous Services rendered to his Government Whether your privat Secretary forgot to encose the $20.00 or whether it was extracted in transitue I know not I Should have been verry happy to have received it & should have felt verry greatful to you as an individual but my chief object & in fact the only object I had was to learn if there was no means by which I could get some part of what the Government owes My husband I herewith return the [illegible] communication hopeing that if your Excellency knows of any way by which my object can be obtaned you will inform me Your most Obdt &C

Mrs. Sarah A Mason

Mason Sarah A

Vandalia Jany 12 64

Recd letter from Secty money not sent is not an object of charity if she could get the wages of her husband.

Jany 23 1864.

Send $20 and answered as directed

Enclosed Receipt to be signed.

Hirshbach

Col Hirshback

When you send the $20 explain that it is not from my private purse but from small fund I have raised from benevolent individuals