Providence sunday Aug 3^th

 

            Dear Father we received your letter yesterday and to me it was verry sad. I have been looking for some such news for some time. I have felt that something was wrong. Father what do you mean by their stopping your pay in washington. did you not have your commission when you left home the way I understand you is this. you were put in command of two forts and expected to have a majors office and some trouble has been made in washington and your pay is stopt untill all is settled. am I right.

 

            In you say your health is not good father you never should have gone you had not the strength. Now the only thing you can do is to come home and make us happy. only think what a comfort you are to me and to all and now we nead you more then ever. why just look four young ladies and all pretty smart and ready / to work. why only think when we get started and you here their will not be a happier family any where you are going to send Ernest home it will be sad for us to see him come and no father we will feel then that you will not come. father your health may be better but I am afraid not good enough to stay in the army. one thing father that made you enlist in the first place was your trouble. that is all past and we all look upon it at that as a blessing sent from god only think what would have become of us we would not have known how to work, and would not have been so happy. we work and when we can not get work it makes us feel bad. all the hard lessons we have here are sent us by a good and kind father to make ready to go home.

 

                        You say you shall have to wait patiently for a letter from home you do not know how many letters we send three letters I have sent you sence Louise sent hers. Ernest I have sent two and liny writes every week and sends it one in the papers. it is was over four weeks when we received your letter. but we know you had nothing pleasant / to tell. I hope when you receive this you will feel better in body and spirit. this like a great many more letters may never reach you but I shall keep on writting. thursday I sent you a letter and I will send you one this week. Look out for your-self and Ernest hope nothing will happen that you will come out of this and be better. I should like to have you at home no matter if you do get a commission if you do not feel any better come home. we want you. we will do anything to get along Come to those that love you

 

                        Never get discouraged again keep up and all will come well I have the hardest trade of any. only think cutting into every bodys dresses. I sent you a letter telling you I was going to cut Mrs Arnolds dress. I cut her a pattern and she did not know how to baste it up right so she had to come down and I just basted it up and tried it on. she liked it verry much and told mother when it was finished she was going to ware it down to let her see it. I / try and not get discouraged and you please try and do the same

 

A pretty hard time you have had but if you get down hearted all the family will I shant say my self because I am going to try and look up and not down hill

                        You will look at the writting and say how maggie does write. I would copy this for I can write better but it would take so long and I know you will excuse it for I want it to go as soon as possible

 

                        I must say good by for a short time. I hope not long

 

                        God watch over you and make you days on earth happy

 

                        I hope Ernest is better tell him I say god bless him I send you and Ernest a good kiss. Good by From

 

                        your Daughter that loves you Mag

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