Oswego Ill Sept 3^rd/65

Sun. Eve

 

Dear Oliver

It has been almost two weeks since I received a letter from you, and I feel quite uneasy about you, for we are having such warm weather lately, I am afraid it is going to cause a great deal of sickness. Arnold Rickard was buried this afternoon. He died yesterday morning and was twenty-four years old. One of Charles Roberts' boys was buried this forenoon, 14 years old. Mr Roberts is east. He got a telegraph dispatch about two weeks ago that his father was not expected to live and went right away. This boy was taken sick a week ago yesterday, and died last thursday morning. They sent several dispatches, but / have not heard from him yet and they kept the boy till to day hoping he would get here, but they could not keep him any longer, and had to bury him before the funeral. Mrs Hope is alive yet, but is very low. I do not know of any one else that is sick now. The friends here are as well as usual.

 

            Well did you know that to day is my birthday, and I am thirty years old. I am getting old fast. Dont you wish you had a younger woman? I shall soon be gray headed too, for I have quite a good many gray hair in my head now. It does not seem as though I was so old when I think back how short the time seems since I was a little girl, but in a few years more we will both be / old folks. I got a letter from mothers brother a few days ago. He has been sick with the diptheria, and was just getting better. Their children have been having it and have just got well. They have some of them been sick ever since he got home, so it has not been very pleasant for him. Lyman and LeRoy were here to day. They are both growing nicely this summer, but LeRoy is going to make the largest man. Uncle Theodore is a great deal better than he was when you was here. He & Aunt Caroline were down to Uncle Charles' last thursday and he came on down here to see Doc. Uncle Brant's folks started back to Wisconsin last friday. They made us a short visit, but I was glad / to have them come at all, for it was more than I expected.

 

            I am trying to get all the sewing done that I can now, & if it stays pleasant mother & I are going to improve the time in visiting this week. There are several places that I want to go before I go away from here. Well I cannot write any more this time. Now I want you to write to me every week while I stay here, or else come and see me that would be better. From Mollie

To Oliver

 

            Ask Josephine if she wants me to bring that bedstead when I come. Mother says she never will part with that cottage as long as she lives.

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