Marion July 3^rd 1861

            Friend Nancie, As I am having a vacation this week, I think I cannot spend a short time in any more agreeable way than conversing with you through the medium of pen and paper. This is a beautiful morning and I have just come in from a gallop over the prairie I am quite well at present much better than I have been for a good many months. I was very glad to hear from you so much quicker than usual and am inclined to think my letter to Aunt L. was the cause of it. it is a pity it was not received the first of Apr. for I think you would have got fooled nicely. I think I wrote to Aunt that I was keeping school with one scholar which was true but that scholar happened to be a girl it rained so that day the scholars could not get there and / I thought I must write some nonsense. so you see that explains it all. Oh Nancie you did not think Miss Independence would ever allow the Matrimonial Bridle to be put over her neck did you no siree. I like my own way to well to give up my liberty yet, and I will say like the poet "I care for nobody, nobody, nobody, And nobody cares for me" I was cut out for an "old maid" and I am going to be one all but the "old". I am sorry you have got such a treacherous memory, and allow me to correct a slight mistake I did not say I had received a package but that "that package" had arrived safe of course if I must speak plain it was for Cous. Edwin. I do wish I knew what he wants to go to Ohio so bad for. I dont know what day of the month the 4^th comes on this year "thats so" will you please tell me and likewise how you spend the day I am going to spend to morrow chasing over the prairies in pursuit of flowers rattlesnakes and gofers dont you wish / you was going to be with me. I do. I am going to run for office next year. I am Assessor this year. I have keept (Grammar) school 55 days have got 5 more days to keep and then hurrah for freedom once more the directors have raised my wages to $4.00 per week instead of $3.75. You ask me if I remember the Commencement night I guess I do and Everett Emmons too.

 

            Oh how I wish you was here to gather some of our prairie flowers that are scattered every where like dew on the grass And there are those of every variety all seeming to vie with each other in beauty and fragrance. But oh we have one on the prairies more beautiful than any flower I ever saw and it is rightly named, being called the Queen of the Prairie. It is a large dark pink rose and runs in vines and makes the most beautiful bower you ever saw I am going to have one set out around our house next spring if nothing happens /

 

            I must write you about the market and crops here I guess. Wheat and oats will not be as good as they were last year Corn looks first-rate and grass never was better. The market price of wheat about a week ago was 40 @50^cts per bush. Corn in the ear 10 @11^cts Oats 9 @ 10 Butter 6 @8 per lb Eggs 5^cts per doz. At the present time corn in Dixon is 20^cts so you see it is coming up farmers will not sell their grain at the present low prices.

 

            There is no sickness of any kind around here it is a general time of health. And now as I have no news to write I will close by sending love and best wishes to all inquiring friends Yourself and Nancie in particular please write as soon as convenient tell all the folks Ange is an old maid yet. Give my love to your folks and Uncles. Mother  sends respects to your mother now with many kind wishes and a farewell kiss I will bid you Au revoir                                             

 

your friend as ever Ange Smith every time

[margins]

 

Tell Aunt I will answer her letter when some one goes out there so I can send it to her by them as she said in hers if she did not get it done so as to send it by Mrs Cadwell I would not get it

 

if you think your fortune is going to be true come and live with me and I will be your man and we will keep maids hall

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