Help with handwritten letter from my great-great-grandmother

[abousall]

The handwriting is difficult to read but I am hoping someone can decipher and translate. This letter was written by my great great grandmother in Caltabellotta Sicily to my great grandmother in New York City. I would very much like someone to translate as I am incorporating material into family history. If you click through to ImageShack you can ENLARGE the image which should make it much easier to read. THANK YOU



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[Lucap]

The letter is almost impossible to read: you must provide a better scan.
L.

[abousall]

I notice that if you click on the image and go to ImageShack website, you can enlarge and zoom in. Does this help?

Hoping someone can translate this for me.

grazie

[Lucap]

Let's try (transcription)
page 2

Caltabellotta 7 gennaio 1925
Carissima figlia
Rispondo alla tua cara lettera la quale mi dava notizia dell'ottimo stato di tua salute, marito e figli. Io grazie a Dio sto mediamente bene.
Colle (con le) L(ire) 100 mi comprai due tumoli(!) di frumento e con questo ho tirato(?) la povera vita meschinamente. Ti confesso che ho torto, come tu scrvesti nella lettera, di ritornare a Caltabellotta, io te ne domando perdono. Però se io ho sbagliato, voi figli non avete fatto il vostro dovere, avete abbandonato una povera vecchia madre che stenta la vita miseramente, senza aiuto di nessuno, dopo che mi avete tutti spogliata (spogliata dei soldi). Lo sa Iddio come ho passato le feste senza vedere comparire nessuno. Gli occhi miei...
(pag. 1)
...non hanno fatto altro che piangere la mia mala sventura. Però io dite (dite che io) non mi posso lamentare. Mi lamento di tua sorella Maria e di tuo fratello Ignazio. Sappiate però che quello che si fa di bene alla propria madre l'avranno ricompensato da Dio in salute e provvidenza. Io mi metto nelle vostre mani e non mi fate più piangere in questi ultimi giorni che mi restano di vita. Desidero sapere se hai riscosso la somma che è ritornata di nuovo in America.
Riceviti i saluti di tuo fratello e parla (dice che) vuole sapere perché non gli hai scritto. Io a te, marito e figli vi do affettuosi saluti dandovi la santa benedizione xxx
Tua affe(zionatissi)ma madre
Modica(?) Pellegrina

[maestra36]

The following is far from a perfect translation of the letter, but I hope it will give you the gist of what the letter is saying-

The letter was dated in Caltabellotta on Jan 7, 1925

Dearest daughter-
I am responding to your dear letter-the one in which you gave me very good news about your good health, husband, and children. On average, I am well, thanks to God. With 100 lire, I bought myself two (tumoli??-it's a form of measure) of wheat and with this I stingily have the poor life. I confess to you that I was wrong, as you wrote in your letter, to return to Caltabellotta. I ask your forgiveness about it. However, if I am mistaken, children do not have to owe you their duty. You have abandoned a poor old mother who finds the miserable life hard, having been stripped of everything, and without anyone's help God knows it, as I have passed the holidays without seeing anyone in person. My eyes have done nothing else but cry over my bad misfortune. However, I tell you that I cannot lament. I lament your sister Maria and your brother Ignazio. You know, however, that the one who does well to the their own mother will have rewards from God in terms of good health and providence. I put myself in your hands and no longer make myself lament in these last days that remain of my life. I desire to know if you have collected the sum that was returned again in America. You receive good health from your brother and he says that he wishes to know why you do not write to him. I give you, your husband, and children warm and loving greetings and give you the holy blessing.
Your most loving mother-
Pellegrina Modica

[abousall]

thank you Maestra, and Lucap. This means a lot to me and my mother. Molto grazie

[marymary52]

Wow, This is a sad letter.

[carubia]

Her father wouldn't have happened to be Pellegrino Modica, would he?