Marine Hospital New Orleans L'a. Dec 31^st 1863

 

Dear Wife, again I will write you a short letter and it will be the last one that I shall write you this year and I may not finish this until the new year commences, so by that means I will tie the old and the new year to gether on this sheet of paper. I sent you two letters by the last mail and one to Frank but I shall not send but one by this mail it leaves here Saturday and then there is another leaves Sunday I may send a short letter by that mail if I have anything worth writing

 

            Your letter of Dec 12^th I got last Saturday and one the same day from Mr Heath. I have been looking for more letters all the week for there is two mails that has been due here all the week and have not yet arrived but will probably in a few days. I have not yet answered Mr heaths letter but will in a few days

My health remains about as it was when I wrote last to you. you said you was having some pretty cold weather at home. Well it is right the other way here, to day is very warm and muggy the thermometer was up to 66 this morning and now it is a good deal warmer. it rained all day yesterday and all night last night and is raining yet a considerable of thunder and lightning with it. but I shall have to stop for a while for they have called us to muster for pay a rather pleasing call that do not you wish it would come oftener. I do

 

            We shall probably get two months pay about the middle of next week then I can send you some more money and I shall do it by the first mail after I get it. The Newark paper and the Syracuse Journal that you sent me I have got, one last week and the other the week before Does father get the Ledgers that I send him. I send him one every week. I have just done up one to send him, and an Era to you. I am very glad that Frank is again a good boy and hope that he will continue so and help you do all the work that he can for he must be large enough now to help you a good deal about your work especially that which is out doors tell him I am glad that you said he was a good boy 

 

Jan 2^d 1864                                                                            

Well I did not finish up this the day that I commenced it but will do it this morning so that it will be in time for the mornings mail. yesterday was New Years day and a more quiet day I have not seen in a long time both here and in the city for I went down there in the afternoon to see what was going on there but I never saw so few folks in the streets of the city as there was yesterday. it was the most like Sunday of any day that I have seen here but it was probably on acct of the cold for yesterday was the coldest day that we have had this winter, the thermometer was down yesterday morning to 22 and it froze all day in the shade. it is pretty cold this morning yet but it looks as if it would be warmer before night again

 

            But the bell has rang for roll call and I shall have to close up this now and I will have a longer one for the next mail if I have anything to write and perhaps some money with it

 

Can you keep warm this cold weather that you must have now

 

Write as often as you can

This from yors as Ever

L. V. Tucker

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