Washington D.C. 10th Feb. 1885

Dear Mother

… I feel most of the time that Virginia is with me and helping me and that her noble soul is helping support her mother … and I doubt not at all but that she is with you and me more now than before — It has pained me tho to have to give up my beautiful wife when we wer gettin so many enjoyable friends and gettin in comfortable circumstances — I would have had some money in hand by this time if I hadnt got crazy and runn my vessel onshore. As it is now I am just swimming out of trouble on borowd money …

The children are just lovely and healthy. I shall strive to do well by my loved ones children I shall try mother to make her Happy in Heaven she was I know happy with me here — she knew that I loved her dearely, and always loved to be in her company — What a terrible separation this has been to me I sen you a photo of or dear ones grave — the name Virginia is in gold and shall be kept in gold as long as I live

Good bye Dear mother. We will write you from Brazil.

Yours in affliction
/s/ Josh

— From Joshua Slocum’s letter to
Virginia’s mother