St Charles Wednesday eavning 29^th 63

 

Dear friends at home we have had our 7 oclock role call and I have had a smoke in our tent and drove the musquitoes out so that I can write two lines without stoping to kill one and I think it is as good a time as I shal have to write to you and I will try and improve it. we had word that the pay master would come to pay us for 2 months that is Jan and Feb if he could get a train we concluded he was not comeing it had got so late some had gawn of in the river and what was in camp wer at work enlargeing our arbour we have made one by puting down crotches puting in poles and covering it over the top with wilow bous about 5 in the afternoon an engine and pasenger car came along and stoped I was in camp we had the long role beat and such shining for camp he was soon dealing out the green backs to uss / the train stood here about ½ an hour and he handed out I think over $2000 and went on to pay other companies I had made rings 4 of them and sold them for 50 cts each to have my pay when pay day came I have got that and I have done a $1.50 worth of washing and got that so that I have on hand $39.05 cts and pay all I ow here I wish you had $25 of it I think some of sending it by express Lieu Hibberd is gouing down to the City tomorrow

Hattie your letter is a very nice one but it is so near the Creole language we have down here that I cannot read it you must write in the language of your Papa. if I get home and go to the Presidential chair I shal ishue an order makeing it a crime to teach childer in the uneion the mangle language that is taken from the aligators in this state punishable with death so you must try and improve. Mother how do you do and how meany gees and chickens have you got have you done cleaning house / you must take good care of yourself and my children while you are cleaning house and not get cold for you know it is a bad time Father I am glad to hear that you continue in health and I hope you may long be spared to uss but I am fearful by you account you are geting a greatdeal of work on hand rember you are alone unless you hire I think if you can find a good hand you had beter engage him to help get our hay I am glad you are geting along with the colt so nicely. you must do what you think best with my money I want my dews paid a the Church I am happy to hear you have hired Brother Gilbert another year I think his fearles maner has gained him frends in Dun by the vote. have you received the money on my bounty scrip. there is $9 dew interest money from Mikeel you had better collect it. if you can get time I would like to have you write me a longer letter and let me know what you are doing and how things are up there. we are geting along finely here / we have a boat on the river and can sail when we are amind to and go to se them make rum and get a drink every time we go to the mill but ther is nothing very good about it and I want no sperits to drink in L^a

 

Mary I think you are a smart woman to be a soldiers wife and get frightened at a colt and then to go to meeting to write well I excuse you on that as you was writeing to me I am glad to get a line from any place I take it by what I can make out that Kate is a member of the church and our dear sister in Christ I hope it is so and that she may be faithful tell her she has my warmest sympathies if I am not there to extend my hand and that if I never meet her on earth I shal expect to meet her in Heaven. Deal and Grandmother how do you do and how are all the boys give them my respects and tell them I hope they may never have to come down here to fight nusquitoes snakes and aligators my old man has come and it is after 9 so we will take a drink of beer and go to bed. Good night all and beleive me your devoted Son Husband and Brother

 

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I shal send you todays paper April 30, 63

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