Dear Cousin Emelia,

                       It is a long time since we have heard from you and some time since I have wrote you. I am almost alone. Aunt has been at Ashtonham will be two weeks Wednesday and to day Uncle has gone after her, is not coming home till Tuesday She will get nicely rested and feel better. She has not done any hard work this great while could not, for she had not strength.

 

            We are getting along after the same / old style. Uncle has fixed up the farm some, made quite a lot of new fence. This fall is going to make some wall, and next year is going to build, so we shall not live in this house much longer. Mrs Jonathan Townsend is dead, was burried week last Tuesday. She had not been well all winter but so to be up round and sew some. She was not confined to her room but a little while. She has always got her own sugar and every thing she has had. Sam was rather cross to her I guess and I do think they are glad she is gone. It is rather a hard speech but I believe it is so. Charles Townsends family are well Emily Malton teaches No 9 and boards at her Uncle Charles. She / is sick, has not been in school for a week. The Diptheria rages here some what. Luke Richardson and Julia have had it. Luke has not got over it yet. Sarah stays at David Appleton's yet. There is a story in circulation that she is going to marry him It does not seem as though she will be such a fool. She will marry his money instead of him, if she does Charles Fisk is married, is going to live at home. Walter Greenwood has brought his wife home Sarah Raffe is married to Albert Lanz, went to Fall River, went to keeping house. Now she has come home to be Mother and he has gone to Trenton N. Jersey so that the way they do here. I expect it is the most improved style, but I dont like the style myself 

 

How do you get along now a days. Where is George, down at Vicksburg. I have looked in the papers for that Regt but have not seen it, and so concluded it had not ben in any of the battles. How are the children—kiss them for Aunty.

 

I had a letter from Marv last Thursday. he was well. They are at Washington hope they will stay there this summer.

 

This war is a terrible thing and when will it ever close. I am glad they are arming the negroes for I had just as leave they would fight as not, for I dont think there lives ar so much more valuable than are white. I have not got to be an abolitionist yet. How do you like your negroes. Perhaps you will call me secesh, but I cant help it if you do

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