Richmond July 29^th 1863

 

            Dear husband

 

                                                                                                            with pleasur I sit down to write a few lines to you to inform you we are well as usial litle riley is not very we he runs alone he is a nice litle roage full of mischief we got no letter from you yesterday the date of your last is 10, 11

 

I dont consider sending those shirts were any trouble I feel hapy to do any thing I can for you I have not got the sugar camp fenced the rails are split and on the line between A[?] and us some laid up the boys did not work very well and I give it up Wash K and I setled he had the horses 4 days to plow and drag and I fed them he alowed me 1.00 dollar aday he charged 2.00 in the haying sophiah workd some she charged me 40 cents a day when she had her children and whole family here nearly a week took me and a hired girl to wait on them she has not worked only 3 days for I thought there / there would be a big price for evry thing and it is true I owe them 75 cents going to pay it Wash is going to mow for Franklin for one dolar an acre I ofred him the same he chooses to work for him let him go to him for hay to winter his stalk on I can get our haying done Franklins and them are both one Malissa Ester Mary Sophiah goes in that lot to get berres to gether she never asks me to go with her They have not made no fence holmes catle is in there all the time he was to build the fence put what stock he had in the rest of the pasture I was to have holmes catle get it we have got 8 ton of hay put up in good order it cost me 15 dollars and 50 cents Lorenso Hays Esra Carpenter is going to help me dont wory about the haying if I can keep up we will get through I have worked out some this week had the teacher sophiah and children two days litle Milly Henry Pratt some other company done the churning and iam tired out I will get rested soon the grass is green yet and groing /

 

I hired 50 dollars of Runels have not sold my wool nor 2 year olds I have been ofred seventeen dollars apiece for them have got 6 cows killed one veal James done it very nice we are fating one more the potatoe crop is going to be very light we have plenty of rain now so nomore at presant yours in haste we want to see you fear we never will Lo my head aches and I must close for this time       Monday 28 I feel beter this morning we herd from Wm Sely James Winans they were taken prisnors Riley write as often as you can I write as much as I can I would like to write once twice a week I am drove with work my babe wories and needs one all the time to care for it I have no hired girl our catle are in good order the 2 year olds fat now I will draw this to a close ifear something ails you you have not writen I still think of you both night and day if you are taken from us we canot get along we are ruined I dont believe I could keep our family together so much to see to some times I dont know what to do farewell o may we meet                     Lovicy A Carpenter

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