Dec Jan 1^th 1862                    

           

My Dier brother Father and Mother. I take the presant opertunity of wrighting you all a fiew lines so you can recieve the knews I halve. the reson I halvant wrote sooner was because I was sick not able to wright. I was takin with the flux this day a week ago. I am improving very fast at presant I think i will be able for duty in a week or two I have taken 18 dosses of medison sense I was taken sick and perhaps will halve to take more yet but I hope not. Henry is unwell and has not bin to say well sense he left home I think if he would take cear of hisself he would git well if ther is any one that can git well her on river water I am in a good hoouse a plenty to eat but it wont doe for one that is sick if any one gits sick her he has to / live without eating of any thing til he gits well I will tell you the reson of my giting sick was to smart I would work and I worked to hard and lifted to much and under took to bild my on house and diging and shovling and gitting hot and then I would set down on the ground Just this way others does and that is the grat reson why the is so many sick M Redon died a fiew days ago he belonged to our C^om When Uncle William gits a letter from Frank I want you to wright in yore letter to me the from Frank excuse this letter I hope thes fiew lines may find you all well an enjoying good helth I halve wrote you a letter everry week sense I halve bin her untill I got sick I and I halvant recieved but 2 from you  

Thomas Bell

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