East Windsor March 30^th/63.

           

Dear brother Wolcott,

                                    I have taken a soiled sheet upon which to write you for I want to send you all the paper I have. We have tried to get up another box for our dear friends in La. but I fear we may not send you what you most need though if we succeed in getting in all the medicines some of you may turn druggist. Baton Rouge does not seem so very far off, and you did actually get the box. Yet it is so far we cannot go to see you. O! I do hope you are getting well, perhaps your recovery is slow, for you remember it is not natural for you to gain rapidly, but like mother, physical changes are very gradual. Keep up good courage it is so essential to good health. We have prepared some boiled flour. You remember using it for a bowel complaint. Grate a couple of tablespoon / fulls and make a qt. of gruel using water with a little salt. Or many people eat the flour from the ball several times a day. It has often wrought cures in obstinate cases and is reccommended by all Physicians. We send a grater; it was Mrs. Ayres'.

 

            We bought a package of cocoa with directions. Henry is to have a tea-pot this time and perhaps he will lend you one of the tin pails he had last box. Will send tea, cough drops, tincture of rhubarb, a pair of stockings, a neck-kerchief, crackers, dried beef, cheese &c. The stockings are wollen we were undecided whether to send them or cotton, but find it is the testimony of soldiers that wollen are better to march in and of all that even for hot climates they are more conducive to health. A whole cheese is sent, it was Gertie's but Mrs. Ayres and we bought ½ of it so fro Frank has one half, you one quarter, and Mr. Ayres one quarter. We have bought a piece of beef of Mrs. Ayres Mr. Stoughton for you. It is for you and Frank and is not divided.

 

            We send a little more jelly and candy / dont eat too much of either. We think of many things but as you all were ailing, we fear to send some things you would like if you were well. For instance dried apples but we read of deaths among soldiers from eating "just a few" uncooked, and all say they dare not trust you. Some speak of sending "Spirits of turpentine" if it is sent be very careful and use only a very small dose say 5 drops and that only in case of necessity. I send paper and envelopes and one of the sabbath school singing books. Mother is not satisfied with my directions for boiled flour gruel.

 

            Grate 3 table-spoonfuls, stir in a little cold water, pour it in a qt of boiling water add a little salt and boil 5 minutes.

 

            I hope you will get it in good time and condition, though we do not expect it to make so short a trip as the other.

 

            There is not much news, the local being merely that H. W. Ladd has another added to his number of boys, making 3 in / all. There is not much going on. it is too muddy to go out except to go to the P. O. and to go to see Charlotte and Gertie. I have been to Mrs. Col. Ladd's 5 times in 2 weeks. We have had two political lectures, Mayor Deming Republican & Gallagher Copperhead. Perhaps you know the peace democrats take the old copper cent and cut out the head which ladies and gentlemen wear for shawl pin &c. What they will make out I am sure I cannot tell. If Seymour is elected it is thought he will disappointed his party. I do not believe he can fulfill his promises and if he attempts, I think Lincoln will be enough for him. I do not have many fears.

 

            We are comfortably well. Father has had a cold but is better, Mother's is just coming on and Fillmore has been quite unwell to-day. Augusta and I are well. She does not write now, because we think the box is not quite as sure to go /

 

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as the mail. We shall wait a day or two in hope to hear from you

until then your

affectionate

sister S.

 

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Perhaps we may not have room for all the things. It snows.

 

[note fragment]

 

Take for a dose of tincture of rhubarb 1 teaspoonful

                                                                                                                       

Tuesday P.M.

            AlfredAvery has just brought in Lottie and we are waiting for Mrs W^m Ladd, and Mrs. Ayres and Josie.

            I send you a fan. /

Share rhubarb with Henry.

 

We could not get the bitters Mrs A. speaks of. We have waited 24 hours for Mr. Hollister's people and W^m Ladds & so if there is nothing for Orrin and little for Frank they will understand why

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