Tuesday Afternoon

April 25^th

1865

 

Dear Coz Mary

                        I think I will improve the opportunity which a not very busy day affords in answering your letter which was duly received it is needless to add that it was welcome, for I am always glad to hear from you and you must not think because they are not always answered as promptly as they should that your letters are not appreciated by me, for well you know that negligence in writing is one of my failings. I suppose your mother is happy now that she is at home once more / I should like to have seen her again before she left and would have done so could I have got where she was. I presume she has got her things home and gone to living again as usual. I hope she will write to me before a great while.

 

Saturday 29^th

                        After writing the preceding I had to lay it aside to attend to some household matters, as mother was not at home and before I got time finish my letter, Jackson Brown came to tell us the sad news that Uncle Sam was no more. he died at one Oclock on tuesday. it was rather sudden although not entirely unexpected. he had been quite poorly for some time, but not confined to his bed at all, had walked about the house some that day, ate his dinner lay down on the lounge soon after, and passed away quietly. the sermon was preached by Elder Bebee Editor of the Signs of the Times an old school Baptist paper your mother may have / seen it. Uncle Sam was universally beloved and respected and his loss will be deeply felt, but by none so much as Aunt Sally the sharer of his joys and sorrows for so many long years. She will miss him every where.

 

            Well coz Mary how are you getting along this spring? and where do you live? are the children well, I suppose they will both go to school this summer. does Clarence have to go to the [?] now to do a [?] ? Do you hear from Oliver often and where is he? After hearing that Richmond was taken and Lee surrendered, all were feeling pleased with the prospect of a speedy termination of the war, but since the recent deplorable events which have transpired at Washington everyone seems at a loss to determine how our national affairs will develop themselves, but we must hope for the best. Tell your Mother that I have named Clymenas baby Burton G. he grows nicely, but she is miserable. / Father improves very slowly cannot do any work at all yet, and probably will not this summer I believe your Mother left the week that Court was in session. father suit was not tried Main professed not to be ready. father thinks he will put it off as long as he can. is'nt it to bad, if Main had his just deserts he would be in prison I do not feel quite so well this spring as I did through the winter. did not expect I should but when the weather becomes settled think I shall be better again. We expect to commence housecleaning next week. it seems like a great job, but I expect to have good help I suppose you see Betta Parker occasionally and Charlotte to. I should like to see them both very much. if I could be in Illinois and feel as well as I do now, think I should enjoy my self rather better than when I was there. remember me to Orvilla, and Eliza Davis when you see her.

but I must conclude, hoping you will excuse innumerable mistakes and write again soon to     Yours truly      Em

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