Newport News Va                 

feb the 16        863

 

Good morning Mary

how do you do this morning and your litle ones all well i hope i received a few lines from Miss rich stating that you had brot forth a daughter and i surpose you air well pleased with the change. i am as well as yousal i am not very well neither be i very unwell Elro is well and harty we air incamped a very prety place it close beside the salt water i had quite a ride on the water and i expect we shal take another before long to go firther south and i do not like that very well as it is coming hot wether i think thair is enouth that dy as it is i surpose Mistar patee folkes feal / prety bad i tell you i did for we had ben together like brothers they rote to me about Henry and wanted i should wright how he was and what i thought about him but before i got thair leter he was dead and they had hurd of it by telegrpt so i have not wrote yet to them he was my tent brother and i miss him o how i wish it could have ben the will of god to had him returned to his pairents before his death but it apears as tho it was not. i received my box last knight and every thing was all wright my boots fit first rate and i return my thankes to all that poot in thair mite it seames as tho i had some friends left yet you wanted to know if i got them postage stamps i did and was very glad to get them / I canot wright much Mary for i wright so often that i have not much to wright if i was well i should injoy myself very well considrin all things but i think i will get home some time take good cair of your self and look out for number one to Charley and frankey papar wants to see you very much and hopes you will boys i thank you frankey for your plums frankey i think you done first rate on wrighting wright often this is from father to his litle boys good by give my love to all ho may inquire take a shair to your self H.P. Elliott

 

pleas wright good luck /

                                               

God be with you now and for ever more

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