January the 21, 1865

 

My dear father and Mother

it is with grate plasure i seete my self to pen a few more lines to you to let you now that i hav not for goten you i am well at presant and i hope these few lines will find you all the same Ira is well and all the rest of the Jay boyes i was glad when i got in this company with the Jay boyes i hav jest ben riten to sary Ann and i thot i wood rite a few lines

 

[in another hand]

 

to you so you would not think I had quite forgoten that I had a father & mother It is storming very hard with part rain & hail But I am very comfortable in my tent /

Ira has just come in and he is well and tough wall Mother I supose you had a good visit with wallace but I expect he is on his way back by this time

 

[return to first hand]

 

well as i hav ben eaten my diner Ira come in and pick up my pen and rote a few lines as you see i hav jest finish my dinner i will tell you what i had for dinner i had bread and meat and some beenes soope and coffey and shooger i hav all i want to eat hear and all i want to do we hav not got the box yet i hope we shall before long i wood like to be with you to day and take super with you i supose you hav had a good time with Wales i hope he is mared for your sake for she cood cume there and help Mother Mother rite and tell me how Ann git along this winter without me i shall like to now she would not rite eny thing to me but what every thing was all rite tell haret i will rite to her before long i must close for out of paper rite boath of you as soon as you git this this from your son

Ephraim Torrance

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