Fort Slocum D.C.

 

My Dear Freddie

                        I got your cunning letter all right. And I must tell you that I will come home and see my Freddie just as soon as Uncle Sam will let me. I should love to take a slide on your sled I am glad you are having such good slides because it makes you healthy and your cheeks rosy. I suppose Willie's double runner is the bullyest sled in Lynn I hope you and Will have good times together like good boys the little boys out here have got some icy weather now, but I do not see any sleds I guess they are not so lucky as you are their papas dont buy them sleds. there is lots of hills here to slide down, but not many little boys to slide down them. I hope you wont get tired of waiting for me I shall come as soon as the weather gets warmer. do you go to school now. dont you miss your old teacher Miss Tarr does Mama learn you to read any on Jane. I expect you will be a bouncing big boy when I get home and I shant have any / cunning little Fred but a great big little boy well I hope you will grow good as you grow big Mama tells me that you are a nice good boy and loves her very much you must kiss Mama for me and tell her I will come home soon

                                                                       

From your dear Father

 

My Bully Boy Willie

                        Yes I will come home as I told Fred just as soon as Uncle Sam can spare me I hope you wont get tired of waiting. You must be patient for I cannot do as I want to if I could I would come tomorrow. I should like to take a good slide with you on your double runner I hope you will enjoy the cold weather and grow fat on it. I am happy to hear that you are doing so well with your lessons and the teacher lets you go home so early be a good boy get your lessons well and you will always be happy. I am pleased to hear that you like your school fellows so well now Willie I cannot tell exactly what day I can come but you must not expect me for at least 6 or 8 weeks perhaps I may come sooner. I will bring home a pretty frame for / you when I come if I get one made I will send it by some one. We fired some cannon on Friday at a target some 2066 yards off with shell what a screeching they made as they went through the air and then they burst and made a loud report it was quite exciting to us for it was the first time we had fired any guns since we had been here we made some very good shots. we shall fire again next week How you would like to see them fire would you not. I am making some little wooden models of the different kind of cannon in the fort which I will bring home to you and Fred I hope you will write me another letter soon you write so well

 

            Mother says you both have got cold I hope it is all well by this time you must be very careful and not get sick. be a good boy to mother and comfort her up Kiss her for me and hug her hard

 

The trees have been all covered with ice this two days and look very pretty. Now I will bid you good night give my love to Georgie and Grandfather Grandmother and / all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins write me a good long letter soon

                                                                                   

From your affectionate Father

Thomas Herbert

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