Letter from Charles E. Washburn in Binghamton to his wife Mariana A. Washburn in Homer, Cortland County, April 24, 1850. Washburn begins his letter "Very briefly, I must write, chiefly to ask your decision again in respect to 'help.'" He offers various scenarios for hiring domestic laborers in the short term until Caroline, currently in the employ of a Mrs. Humphreys, can be engaged in three or four months' time. "Shall I engage the young African till then? Or shall I secure Irish help, to the best of my ability?" He suggests Catharine Sullivan, but worries that her father's duties as a justice of the peace that she "is in such urgent demand in such families as the Lewises and the Clapps may make her too independent." Another option is a sister of "Mrs. Humphrey's help, Margaret," but the sister "knows much less than Margaret, is not educated in cooking, & does things less satisfactorily than Margaret." A former employer told her "she had better go, and finish her education. But she is stout, & and a worker." He then offers to defer the matter until Mariana comes to Binghamton, suggesting that he arrange in the meantime for a woman to "clean the whole house, & put things to right as much as possible. Then we will decide about the rest."