Harpers Ferry Va Jan 17.63

           

Dear Parents

             It is Saturday morning and having a little spare time I thought that I would write a few lines to let you know that we are well and hope this will find you the same This morning the weather is quite cold and the ground is frozen hard yesterday it rained hard all the forenoon so you can see what sudden changes we have in the weather here.

 

            Our boys are having lots of sport nowadays for they have got their old fiddle fixed up and they go in for dancing on the big side and it makes a very good exercise all that is lacking is the girls but we find some very good substitutes for them in the company

 

            Those cigars and tobacco that you sent us go of finely this cold morning How comfortable it seems to sit around a good fire with nothing to trouble our peaceful minds no wood to be chopped or brought in no milking to do no horses to feed and water and no foddering to be done fine fine aint it though 

 

            I heard that Asa Snow was sick in the hospital near Washington

 

            Alf and Tip are well and enjoy first rate health Polk is a little unwell and has been for three or four days but nothing serious about it

 

            Hiram is on guard down on the Potomac to day but they have a good comfortable place to stay in so it wont be very tedious for him

 

            It is time to close this letter or else it will have to lay over till Monday so good bye this from Charley

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