Dexter Sept 7^th 1864

 

                                                                                    Dear Mother

                                                                                                            Once more I address you under painful circumstances to Sympathise with you a little in your late bereavement Poor Olney has gone from amongst us to meet his dear brothers and Sisters that have gone before I can hardly realise that I Shall never See his Smiling face again he was a Dear Brother a true Patriot a kind friend a good Man he gave his life for his country and laid it down in a good cause he will long be remembered by his friends here of which he had a large number he bore a good name and was beloved by all who knew him. He and I have been intimate for a long time and I feel his loss very much/

 

Our little band of brothers and Sisters is growing Small very fast Since dear Frank and I was married only a little while ago four of the dear ones have gone from among us to be here no more forever it is hard to give them up but our loss is their infinite gain they are blessed Angels now and watch over us from on high in Heaven above where all is love there will be no Sorrow there no more trouble nor trials no more war all is peace and harmony and the tears are wiped from off all faces where we Shall one day meet them never more to part forever it is a blessed assurance and robs death of one half its sting.

 

Poor little Zeruah is not looking so well as I wished she was It makes my heart ache to See how pale & Spiritless the dear child is I never knew/untill I saw her but what her health was perfectly good I was very much Surprised at finding her at Lucys when I returned home and more surprised to see how much she is changed Since last I Saw her but we are going to have her cured up I Sent Orin down to See her. Give my love to Sister Mel an little Etta (tell her I am much obliged to her for the Stick of candy) and keep a good Share for yourself

 

I have got Some money that Olney Sent to me for Safe keeping which you can have at any time there is also a little due him from the town but not much the vote of the town was to pay them nothing for the first Six months three dollars a month for the Seckond four for the third and so on up to eight dollars a month for the last Six months making/in all about $175 for three years I Suppose there is some back pay due from Government the last time he Sent any money to me was in Aprill I don’t know what time he was paid off I will Send you an order for you to Sign and Send back and I can draw what there is comeing from the town without any further trouble to you I shall want to know likewise on what day he died perhaps you had better Send the letter you received Stating that fact I don’t think of any thing more now once more accept the best love and heartfelt Sympathy of Your Affectionate Son

                                                Joseph L. Jumper

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