Northumberland Feb 25 1864

 

            Dear Frank

                                    Again after a long silence I seat my self at the table of corrospondence to write the same I should have writen some time ago I am much afraid dear Frank if these shamefull delinquencycies does not seace ceace you will loose confidence in me and indeed I could not reproach you if you would as my neglect in writing is enough to awaken distrust in the m most trusting heart yet dear Frank I have my hindrances when it is not work it is company we jeneraly have a great deal on sunday and when we dont have it seems as though the boarders are ocupying the whole house and where/There is so much of it done I cannot write very well. There is one excuse and here is an other I was away from home one week and another is I have been slightly under the weather for a short time The worst ever cold on my lungs and breast but I can hardly complain of that any more as I am getting over it more easily than I thought I would but still Frank with all of these excuses I thought none the less of you for you are allmost constantly the theme of my thoughts I very often coll catch my self wishing to see and speak to you not saying That writing is a task or burdensome I wrote some two or three weeks ago you never mentioned your receiving the letter at and I heardly think you did as I Frank I still rejoice to hear of your continued good health I am not entirely free from apprehensions in that quarter I hear a great many/accounts of the frightfull extent to wich small pox prevails and several other contagious diseases and I know you are just as liable to fall prey to its pounce as any one I am not jineraly in the habit of looking on the dark side of the picture yet such thoughts as this will come up in my mind But as I do not court their society they are speedily dismissed. The weather is very changefull it has been with the exceptions of a few weeks a very open winter and sc scarcely and any snow with some no sleighing of at all and as it is getting quite late in the season one may as well give up all hopes of a having any this f year for my part I do not care I am very glad the winter is so near over I am not partial to it There has been some fine skating/and the ladies have done their to improve it it has become fashionable for Ladies to skate but it is an amusement I have never availed my self of perhaps never shall times are very dull at present and old Northumberland is worse than ever of local news there is a scarceity none that would interest you and as for war news they are stale and all most worn out before they reach here Dear Frank I will have to close for the present allthough I have not prolonged it to the jineral length of my letters it is the best I coud do this evening as it was late when I commenced Maggie is some better I am very glad of it and hope she will still keep on improveing Dear Frank for the present I must bid you adieu May god watch over and protect you and may he bless you with pece health and happiness is the prayer and wish of your devoted Agnes

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