Friday Jan 31^st/64

 

Dear Cousin

 

                        your favor of the 25 came duly to hand and as ever found me much pleased to learn that I was still remembered by absent ones in the old bay state yet we are absent and may never meat on earth but by the kindness of provedance we may meat in the world to come as our savior has died that all may live not a part of man kind /

 

my health is very good at presant and every prospect for a continuance of the same blessing you speak of my sending my photograph I will the next time that I write you but you will not wish to keep it as I look so very ugley.

 

                        You would not wonder at my not wishing to be bound by those saton ties if you had been in the Army for 3 years as I have been but some will not learn by experiance well for my part I wish to be free and not be bound by those loving ties

 

            I hear you are nearly 27 years of age has so many long years passed since last we met yes it is and we wer children then gay and happy / but alas time has left her blight uppon many since that long to be rememberd time

 

            Does not Aunt Hannah wish to hear from me bad enough to write me if not she cares very little about it she being my senior makes it my duty to write first

 

            My sisters address is Mrs Lizzie C Bassett Vineland NJ she would be much pleased to be a from y at eny time

 

            We have had an examination to day for this Reg^t but in my ward they did not find one for duty

 

            My Love to all of our relatives and friends

                                                           

W T Leonard

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