Berlin April 13^th 1862

 

Dear Fanny

                        This is a fine spring morning, it having cleared off quite warm and pleasant after a long rainy spell. we have plenty of mud, though I think that is preferable to snow and the cold raw winds of spring. I took a long walk this morning with the Judge. the birds have returned after their winters tour, and were warbling forth their songs of praise it was very pleasant to hear their welcome voices again. I dont think one can appreciate the beauties of nature as well where they are in constant communion with them as when they are shut / up in doors with only an occasional opportunity of throwing off the cares and perplexities of business. for instance being immured in an office surrounded by old musty law books and brought in contact with onley the most stern and frequently disgusting realities of life. I think this is one reason why so many in the legal profession are so reckless. they think every one else a scoundrel and suppose they they must be big ones to be entitled to respect.

 

            There is a great degree of anxiety in this City in regard to the result of the last great battle at Pittsburg there was two companies from this place and the report now is that they were badly cut to pieces and taken prisoners. those having friends in the fight are expecting to / hear the worst news possible. a great many of my old acquaintances were in the fight that I never expect to see again. it is awfull to think of, that men have to resort to such means as war to settle dificulties I hope it will soon be through with if they would all try to do right there would be no need of such wars as this. Fanny you spoke of your throat as troubling you. You have not had the Diptheria have you. it has been raging here this spring and a great many mostly children have died with it. I received a letter from my Mother a few days since it was a good long one and such a one as a Mother can onley write. her health had not been very good but she thought herself improving. I have not heard from Mrs R for some time I shall probably / hear from her soon. she is my favorite Sister. the others are as good as she but she always took a great interest in my welfare both temporal and spiritual so I became more particularly attatched to her. she writes me good letters I tell you. did she talk with you at camp meeting last fall. I think she said she did. she is as bad as a preacher when she gets to talking on the subject of religion

 

            I should like very much to come up to W— in blackberying season and in fact I believe I partly promised to do so last winter did I not. I will come up if it is a possible thing although I must confess Fanny that the prospect of going a blackberying does not posess as great temptation to me as a prospect of seeing a certain pair of black eyes whose owner lives in that vicinity that pleasure added to the sport of berying has peculiar attraction, but I see that I must close. If you can’t read this Fanny send it back and I will try again. my regards to your people and believe me as ever yours—

                                                                                                                        Frank M. G.

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