Waldo Ogn      May 10 1863.

 

Mrs. E. J. Weston

Low Moor Iowa                                                   

 

My dear Sister.

 

                        I believe I have neglected you in not writing oftener, as I have received all your letters & papers for which I am very grateful.

 

            You seem much nearer & dearer to me than ever before & George seems like a hero & notwithstanding your fears I wish to see him promoted & wearing his sword & shoulder straps. perhaps yet with a star on them. I know how much or at least have an idea how much he must undergo & believe it would kill me in a week.

 

            Of course I try to follow his movements as near as I can & as I take many papers, Harpers Weekly among them which contains pictures of all noted scenes I have some idea of what is, or has been going on. I think of him continually & wish I could give him what little strength & courage I possess.

 

            The article in the paper you sent me by the Chaplain of the Reg made me cry— 

 

            I could not help it.

 

            I am glad you are so brave & hopeful & hope you will continue so to the end.

 

            How hard it is to realize the changes that have occurred in the last 5 years. Will they be as great in the next 5? I think if we both live that George must come out here, but that circumstances will determine. It seems as though we ought to live near each other & Iowa would not suit me & as for your friends in the East dont believe you have got any. "that is to say, I think so myself" Judging by myself. If we could go back to N. H. & find everything just as they used to be of course it would be another thing but as it is, it would be like heaven without the stars.

 

            I receive letters from Brother Bill some times, but he is growing dull his troubles have impaired him very much.

 

            I have had a great deal of trouble & sorrow myself but I will not let them blunt my feelings in fact they make me nervous & more sensitive.

 

            But we (you & I) are with / out doubt growing old & do not feel precisely as we did when we went to school together & you used to trudge up & down "sand hill" with Mary Matthews the Sheldon boys Franc Emerson &^c Dont you think Francs husband has a hard time of it "in one sense"? By the way our little girl will be here in 4 or 5 weeks & I cant settle on a name would call her after you if I thought her worthy. How do you like Magdalene or Evangeline or Marion or Barbara?

 

            Jennie is quite smart, but after all it is too bad & I am determined never to do so any more.

 

            Please remember me to Harriet I would write to them only they didn't answer my last letter.

 

            And so good bye

 

Your affectionate brother

John C. Weston.

 

P.S. I have sold my pastures on the mountain to W^m.

 

 

[verso]

 

I have been thinking that when you come home for good, if you could find a Contraband girl 12 or 13 years old that had lived been used to working in the house, I would like her to live with us. When you come I shall not want Elisa she never will be a good hand in the house. if you should bring 2 or 3 you could find places quick enough if we dont want them. Wallace would like a good man & woman, has talked of sending to you. You must not go to any expense to do it we cannot afford it. I sometimes think I can hardly afford to keep Elisa. Becky dose finely Cynthia will keep her as long as she will stay. I suppose you could not get dress goods at Jackson if you ever can confiscate me a black silk or any kind in fact I would like it. ha ha, aint it strange.

 

Monday

Eliza went to wash for Mrs Schuyler to day I have made another cheese. Churned & backed. had some new potatoes for dinner had peas last week. Oh! the red heifer is running with Blodes cattle. I would get her home but suppose she would not stay so must wait till fall but will try my best to get her then Mrs Wagners baby looks just like Richard & Frank. it has the hooping cough we think. I expect my children will have it. I have no more to write now, I am very tired & will close

Your Emelia

 

this dress         I shall trim it with

cost 4.20 it is   blue it will be pretty

nice I think

will make such a

nice traveling dress

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