My Dear Absent Uncles.

           Time is speeding swiftly away and yet peace unfolds not her silvery wings and fills not the air with harmonious notes of freedom that in days gone by we were wont to enjoy. Yet true it is that those days are past and the other side is now laid out to our view.

 

Here I sit penning a few wandering thoughts to a soldier "Uncle". Memory reverts to days when that "Uncle" was here in our midst enjoying friends and home comforts such as feather beds and cheerful firesides at all times and "the right side up with care" always

 

            This is a fine day and yet we are remaining at home, although Father & I attended morning service Last Friday Aunt Sarah came in for Lizzie Rowley and myself after having a pleasant visit Aunt brought us in yesterday afternoon. Last night I went up to Normal to the Union meeting of the Literary societies Everything was in fine style the debates good the Ladies paper excellent and the singing very fine.

 

            You could hardly imagine what happened here on the evening of the 16^th or last Thursday. your curiosity is by this time aroused enough for me not to hesitate longer it was a small party in honor of my 18^th birthday the evening was very beautiful and the company in fine spirits and gay and lively the evening was spent. Never no never unless my senses fail me will I ever forget that day and evening.

 

            Next Saturday eve I expect to attend a similar party. "Miss Maggie Evans". they are pleasant little reminders of and one can form just a circle of select friend with whom to mingle.                but still few will do.

 

            The Company (Capt Moore's) that were in the 8^th regiment returned week before last few of them were sick and most of them say they have quite enough of soldiery and so the young gentlemen have commenced going to their usual schools. Just as if all was settled and there was nothing more for them to do.

 

            It seems you hear from home so often I must say I do not think just what would most interest you yet I suppose if I could talk to you I should not keep still long

 

            Ere this I presume "Aunt Sarah" wrote you all about the Fair and who were the lucky winners in our family. perhaps she forgot to mention my success. I drew the first Premium on crochet work again it was a chair tidy which now graces your nice large parlor chair how I wish you could rest your weary head upon it. The Ladies Aid Society were sewing this week for the 94^th Reg and started them yesterday I think. They went mostly for the sick of the regiment. The shades of night are approaching. how typical of life. once bright and next dark.

 

            Hoping that the stars may shine as brightly over your head as they do here. I ask your kind remembrance of your niece Ada Barnard

 

Uncles S. & O. will please except

my best wishes and purest love

from their ever loving niece   Ada

 

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Whenever you have spare time write me you may rest assured it will meet with a hearty welcome and promptly answered the other uncles would know not how much I should appreciate a letter from them.

 

 

Bloomington October 19^th 1862 Sunday & at our usual residence. all moderately well. the friends are generally well so far as I know. Benjamine S & Mary & 2 little boys took dinner with us yesterday. Adaline & Lizzie Rowley was out and staid all night with Sarah Friday night last. I saw Anny & Nancy Fowler returning from town, also Arvesta & little Charley driveing their 2 horse teams as comon as if it was customary, which is becomeing quite customary to see women driveing the 2 horse wagon or buggy. necesity calls out many dormant powers, whether it will be for better or worse, is yet to be learned. the past week has been a verry pleasant week of weather, quite frosty of mornings and warm enough through the day. the roads pretty good and an immense amount of teaming doing. corn prices rose to 26 cts a bus. which made one general rush, wheat worth from 60 to 90 cts, a large amount comeing to market the railroads not able to near supply the demand of shippers, consequently they have raised on the freight and the price of grain has fallen. 20 cts for corn Friday & Saturday potatoe crop light, and considerable rotten, prices up to 50 ct by the load. winter apples from 40 to 75 laborers from $1 to $1.50 pr day and scarce 

 

I had the misfortune on Friday last to mash my right hand thumb quite bad; which makes it quite difficult to write, and disables me verry much about work, and my man Yager has been sick, and ailing 2 or 3 weeks. So that my work has not progressed verry well. my house is being plastered, so there is some hope of occupying it ere long. there is quite an amount of improvement going on so that it makes it quite difficult to get mechanics in a reasonable time to work. as my hand is to stiff to write with ease, and my mind not verry clear I will let Adaline fill the rest of this sheet so with all due respect I close, hopeing to injoy your Society before your time of enlistment expires, for surely the rebels cannot hold out so long. you no doubt have got the news of our troops success at or near Corinth and elsewhere so I will not dwell on that subject.

 

to Brothers O. J. & S. Barnard collectively F. Barnard.

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