Oswego Ill May 3^rd/65

N^o 98

 

Dear Oliver

It will soon be a month since I received a letter from you. It is a month to day since it was written, and I feel anxious to hear from you again. I see by the papers that Sherman's army is still at Goldsboro, but I do not think the 15^th Army corps is there, for if they were you would write to me unless you are sick, and if you are you ought to get some one to write for you, because you know time seems long when we do not get letters. I hope it will not be a great while before you will be at home again, for in last saturdays paper it stated the armies would be reduced / as speedily as possible, in order to reduce the expenses of the government, so I should think they would discharge those, whose time is nearest out. I expect they had a great time in Chicago yesterday. Lincoln's body arrived there at eleven o'clock. I have not seen any paper this week, so I do not know the particulars. His death is most universally mourned and well it may be for he was a good and noble man, and his loss will be felt a long time. His name will always stand high in the nations history & will find a place in the hearts of his countrymen, with that of Washington. Seward and his son are getting better as fast as possible. What a situation our country would have been in if the assassins had succeeded in the whole of their plan. It makes me shudder / to think of it. But there is a Providence who rules over all and his hand is plainly to be seen in this. Uncle Charles said it seemed to him that it was Gods will that that the rebels should be punished more severely than Lincoln would do, so his work was finished. But it remains to be seen what Johnson will do. I hope he will be a good man for we need such now, and he is in the right place to try his soul, if he has got any.

 

            We are having very nice weather now for a few days, and the cherry trees here before my window are in full bloom. I will send you some of our early flowers. I presume you see handsomer ones every day, but these are from home. The spring is not as forward here as it is some seasons, but every thing looks well as far as I have seen. /

 

            I heard yesterday that Mr Valentine talked of starting a store here. I hope he will for I think a good merchant would do well here and would draw a gooddeal of custom that now goes to Aurora because a great many will not trade here only what they cant get along without. Teller says he sells things just as cheap as they do in Aurora, but I dont know when it is. As the saying is "I cant see it". Mother said I must give you her best respects and tell you she will be glad to see you at home again, and would like to hear from you very much. Your mother took tea with me last night. She is about as usual & Mary helps her about the same. She done first rate while Dow was at home but since he went back it is the same old story. Well this is about full so I will stop for this time hoping to hear from you soon. From

           

To Oliver                    your Mollie

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