Providence March 31^st/64

 

Dear Father

                        Received a letter from you day before yesterday and was very happy indeed to to hear that you were well but sorry to hear that you expected the rebels to pay you a visit it makes us feel sad all the time for we do not know what the next news may be but we must hope for the best. the same God watches over us all. in him we must trust. I suppose by this time you have received Mag's last letter, telling you of Uncle Williams death. he died a week ago Thursday and was buried the following Sunday. they felt very sad indeed, but he suffered so much perhaps it was better for him to die. Mag feels hurt because she receives no answers to her letters. it does seem very strange, because we have not received answers to half of those we have sent you. there have been certainly a dozen written to you from home not speaking of those Mag has sent you since she has been in Jersey City. I have written three to your one I guess. it seems very strange if you do not receive them because we / seem to get yours direct, judging from the date. so please write oftener even if you do not receive answers to yours right away. you must believe they are on the way, the same as I do. I do not wait for answers before I write. I have not forgotten your request to write often. I have sent you papers at different times have you received any of those. I thought you would be interested in the spring elections. this year matters are a little exciting. there has been a split as they term it in the Republican party. Gov Smith wishes to be Senator instead of Anthony. So the Smith party bought out the Post that despicable sheet to work out their selfish ends and finding it to be a losing business, they sold out and bought out the Press. all kinds of sharp fighting through the papers. Father, I think Gov Smith just about as selfish a person as you can find and I honestly believe he could have done much better by you if he had been a mind to. Such is life it tends to make people very watchful of one another, so much of this looking out for No 1 and his friends. they have elected Manian again this year, although much / was said against it. Abert Sanford was very kindly relieved of his office a short time ago and he resents in the fashionable style of talking about those who relieved him. he says Senator Anthony is morally and politically corrupt and he can prove it. if he can why don't he? he cheated Lemuel out of his right pay and that is the reason why he left him. Father what do you think was the reason George Adams did not pass the examination at Washington. it was through Col. Metcalf, he had a spite against George since he first knew him and vented his ill feelings on him by telegraphing to Washington and telling them not to pass him. it all came out the other day through an irishman who was in the Regiment, and heard Col Metcalf tell Capt Stratton not to make out George's papers. it has all come out pretty clear. There is also quite a time here about the swindling of the soldiers of the 14^th Reg—it seems they have been taken advantage of by some of their officers and others. I will send you papers from time to time so you will be posted up. How I wish you were safe at home with us. I think your place is home what do you think! The box is ready most to send / to you it was a great pity we could not hear in time when the last Batt was to leave, so we could have sent it by them. they left yesterday from Dutch Island and we could not find out in time to send. we will probably send it Saturday so be on the look out for it. send to New Orleans for it when you think it has arrived. It will certainly start Saturday. Mr White has raised our rent and that means to us we must move I do not know what we are going to do the money we receive from you will just about give food for the family I have used all my money as it came along for clothing for the girls and little ones all that I did not really need myself. all I could do has been done. not a cent of the money from the bank has gone for anything but rent and food and they have nothing either poor children they have a hard look ahead. the whole of it is all must work if you were here there would have been someone here to look up to. now I have to think for all. every thing is so very high, butter 65 cts. What do you think of that. everything according so a hard look ahead. if all were started, all the girls doing somthing, it would be pleasant to think about, but it costs somthing, such a family Mr White has raised the rent to $250. of course we cannot pay that it was a sin to pay the rent we have been paying so long but there are no tenements and if there are people do not want such a family in. they seem to think people children have no right any where. They have raised my salary a little giving me 200. but if things go on as they have are I must have more. must try and keep this family up if possible. please do not think I am grumbling because I am not. only speak from neccessity for your advice. do not let this worry you. I will do the best I can. we will try and get along please answer right away and tell what you think. Oh! you should have been here Easter. Such singing I never sang so well in my life I had about 10 solos to sing and have had some nice compliments. Mrs Judge Ames came to me the other Sunday and told me she hoped I would not leave—at least I must not as long as she lived what do you / think of that. Mr and Mrs Walcott sang for us and sang very well too. we had a choir of 10 singers and every thing went of very well I told you in my last I had commenced to take lessons of Wiese but he came so unregularly that I was forced to dismiss him. he went off with one of the actresses to play for her and left his pupils. I should be very glad to take of him, because I could learn so much, but it cannot be helped. I cannot afford it now. Give our love to Ernest and tell him I will try and send his letter to-morrow. please ask him to write oftener to me. his letters are very pleasant ones and it will improve him to think of us at home often. But Father I must close. All are very well at home and send love and a kiss to Father and Erny. Please write a word or two to Del giving him a little talking to he is very negligent indeed so a little scolding will come quite right. So Good-Bye Dear Father hope all will be well with you. I think of you every night in my prayers.

                                                                                               

Your affectionate daughter

Linie Simon

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