U S Steamer “Madgie”

                                                                        St Catherines So Ga            May 25^th 63

 

Dear Sister Mary

                                    You must excuse me for not answering your kind letter before I know it is a long time since you wrote but I know you will forgive me this time in future I will try and be a little more prompt you shall have this all to your self and be shure and read it first.

 

                                    I have not much to tell you about this time for we are in a strange place I have not been on shore here I think by what I have heard say it is a very nice plantation ther are three old negroes on the place the youngest is 104 years old the oldest 110 they are regular old mokes I think you would like to see them there are some splendid flours here if we stop long enough I shall collect some of the seed and bring home with me./

 

I suppose you go to school now how do you like your teacher I think you will have to march very strait this Summer I heard by Lizzies letter that Henry cut his foot I suppose you take good care of it if not you ought Have you learned the Peano to make any noise yet if not I want you to I want you to learn seven or Eight tunes to play for me when I come home will you do so I will buy you all the music that you want and let Nance show you tell her to have a list of music made out and have it ready to send to New York when I get there and you shall come in for a show. dont you think you can find time to write once more after you get this I dont think it will take quite so much time for me to answer it the next time to day is Sunday but you would never know it to come on board this vessuil to day all the change/I see from yesterday the men have got on white pants and caps to muster in for inspection I dont think our new Captain has ether the fear of God or regard for man I had the forenoon watch and I had to get Steam to move the Ship about four times the length just to make the men work to heave in about forty fathoms of chain that is all the fault I can find with him he rather see work going on Sunday than at any other time tell Mother I am well as can be hopeing this will find you all in good health I will subscribe my self Your affct

                                                            Brother

                                                                        Cha^s

To Mary F Goodwin

SOURCES