Letter from Lucy E. Abbot of Washington D.C. [formerly of the Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs] to Margaret Blackbird Boyd of Harbor Springs, Michigan, dated April 25, 1887. Abbot expresses her sympathies to hear that Boyd has lost her husband and has been sick and unhappy. Abbot responds to Boyd’s complaints about taxes by explaining that the Office of Indian Affairs no longer has care of Boyd’s property, and as such, Boyd is now subject to the same property tax as white people. Abbot suggests that Boyd go to her priest to explain the matter and see if she is being overtaxed for her property. Abbot expresses that Boyd coming to Washington D.C. would be a useless expense, and suggests instead that Boyd write to Rev. J.Q. Stephan, head of Catholic Indian Missions in Washington D.C. Abbot says she has followed up with Mr. Lusk about profits from the sale of Boyd’s “Indian things” [Boyd was an accomplished basket maker, beadworker, and quillworker]. Abbot also followed up with Mr. Chapman, who sold Boyd’s artworks in his store, and found out that Mr. Chapman sold his store to a Mr. Charles Wood. Mr. Wood indicated that there was a remaining stock of Boyd’s artworks that had not sold in the store, so Abbot asked Mr. Wood to send the works back to Boyd so that she may sell them in Harbor Springs that summer. Abbot states that she is no longer in the Office of Indian Affairs, but will always be Boyd’s true friend.