Helena Arkansas December 2^nd 1862

 

Dear Malvina

                                    I again this Eavning set down to converse with you by letter it is but yesterday that I wrote to you as I write at present it is about nine oclock at night Lieutenant Gorden has been in my House talking to me since darke about Scotland a bout the olde Ruins and castles in that country and how they used to fight in olde times it has been quite interesting to me and the eavning has passed away very quickly aparently. to day has been a Rainy drizly day and consequently I have set in the house all day but the fact is I never go around mutch unless it is on duty we are camped in the edge of Town and I do not go down in Town once in two weeks unless on Buisness I expect you think a mighty change has come over me. it does apear to me if I was at home I coulde stay in side our two lots for one monthe and then not halfe try. I feare when I get home that when I do go around you will have to go along with me. I expect you had better look around and see if you cannot get a good dog and train him again I get home for it does apear to me at present that nothing short of a savage dog woulde induce me to go away to do an errant and more especialy to do work of any kinde / I know you coulde not do it by scolding me and you know if that wouldent do it a great change has taken place well Vina I must tell you a little about my shanty and fixings I live in a little cabin covered with Clabboards and have got a snug little fire place a floor made of logs split in too and a door made of Clabboards and my olde Boot legs for hinges a window with three places to put glass in but I cannot keep glass in as the Report of the cannon whitch are on the Fort knock them to peices as one gun is shot off once in the morning and Eavning and as a substitute for glass I tore up one of my olde white shirts and tooke the taile of it and nailed over the sash and you may be sure it looks nice I have got a very nice little table to write on and two stools to set on besides several Boxes when I have company holde on dont you get jealeous for I do not mean I have ladys for Company for I have not spoken to a woman since we left Memphis nothing nearer to a woman than an olde negro wench that comes around to get my washing to do one of the Boys made me a very nice bed stead to sleepe on I use my olde Tent for to sleep on in the place of a feather Bed or tick I have got some olde shirts Rapt up for a pillow and have got that Comfort I Brought from home and three Blankets to put over me so you see I sleepe warme I have got a lot of Amunition in my house and twenty six guns and a lot of other articles / too tedious to mention if I had no Vina or little ons I might be prety well sadisfied I mean if I was a young man but as it is I make some awfull wishes some times I wish the darnd old shanty was setting chuck up again our or your kitchen door and I was in it what an ornament it would be to Bluffton and frequently in going to bed on that olde harde tent I wish I was in Bed with Vina at home ill bet I would sleepe better than I do here on this confounded olde tent (I will not write any more to night

 

Wednesday Morning Dec 3^th 1862

Dear Malvina

                        Yours of the 25 inst has just come to hand I ame glad to hear you are all well in answer to how mutch Money you have you say you can tell me you have not got mutch you will have to be saving for I do not know when I will get Paide again you certainly ought to know how mutch you have on hands let me know the next letter if you have but little it will take but a short time to count it but if you have got your winters wood &c it will not take mutch to do you for a month or so I ame about out of money my selfe but I will try to Borrow and do the Best I can until pay day I have got to Buy evry thing I use here and at an awfull price too I will try and write again this week yours truly

                                                                                                Samuel J Keller

 

Mrs M E Keller

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