Milldale Ohio.

Tuesday Aug 1^st 1865.

           

Dear Brother,

                              Your kind favor bearing date at Nashville Tenn July 14^th was duly Rec'd. I will take the liberty to answer it myself. We arrived at home at 9½ A.M. last Sunday one week and have enjoyed ourselves generly since. The folks were all glad to see us come home. Joseph Wiley give us a party at the Independence hotell. the weather was disagreeable yet all the young folks were there, and it was a perfect success. that was the only party that I have been to since we arrived at home. there will be a grand ball at Defiance thursday evening. / also a picknick in the neighborhood of the Independence dam next Saturday. Dont it tempt you? The young ladys will don their best and try to look like angels. Some of them will make sad havoc among the returned Veterans. We recd your clothes the charges were (3.50) three dols and fifty c'ts. I paid the charges myself. It is more than the old clothes are worth.

 

Mr Abell received a letter from you a few days ago. Mrs Abell tells me to send you much love for her. Abells are anxious for you to come home. They talk of going East soon on a visit. No doubt they want you to take the store and perhaps the farm Mr Abells health is not very good now /

 

Phillip is building a new house, or in other words rebuilding an old one. He is making poor progress at farming. I give him a lecture the other day. I told him he took hold at the rong end of the handle of what ever he went at in the farming line. He might have been into business that he understood a greateal better than farming. It is queer that a man as independent as Phil used to be would let a woman lead him round by the nose. It is more than a woman will ever do with me! be careful in making a choice when you return home The Youngs are curious fellows about picking out a partner for life. Beware of red hair /

 

Well I have been at home idle one week. I cannot loaf but one more week or I might loose what little cretid I have left. I am not certain that I have any now.

I have not made up my mind yet what to go at I thought of waiting till you returned home and perhaps we could get into business together. If not I shall not stay at home long.

 

It has been raining here all through harvest and folks were put back with their work considerable yesterday and to day are real pleasant. Crops along the river look fine.

 

            I have written all that I know of and have exhausted my present store of knowledge Hopeing this may find you in health I will Subscribe

myself             Your

Affectionate Brother

William

 

P. S. I will mail a letter to you to day which we rec'd here it is from a friend

 

Please keep this                                              

letter shady, write                                           

on receipt of this

           

Yours &c—Will

 

[upside down margin]  Please keep this letter secret

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