Benjamin is writing about the death of his mother, Esther, which he found out through a letter from his sister Sadie. He laments that he was not able to see her one more time and talks about how unexpected her death was to him....
Samuel is writing to his father to let his father know that his daughter Cara is not doing well and she is not expected to last much longer. He asks that his father let the rest of the family know.
Samuel says to his brother Thomas that his Cara is still alive, but barely. She has been suffering and "cannot properly last more than an hour or two" she is so weak.