Chesterfield Co Va Oct 25 1862

 

Dear brother

                                    I seat myself this morning for the purpose of writing you a few lines, I have not received any answer to the one I wrote you last, but write by the request of Mother, to let you know our situation, though doubtless before this reaches you you will have heard from the letter Sister wrote to Issie. Mother request me to say Hezekiah left here last night week ago without any cause whatever. he did not even give us the least Idea that he was going away, but ran off/in the night like a darkey, and left us alone to do every thing, even to attend to the horse, something we never expected to have to do. he left us almost without any wood. M^r Rowlett promised mother he would haul her wood if she could have it cut but it is a hard matter to hire any one to cut it. Mother says you must go and see brother Tom if you can and see if he will be willing for you to carry the horse down there and sell him if you can, as she can not possibly keep him much longer as she has no one to attend to him. he is right poor now but/if well attended to might soon fatten some. she has some feed yet. she says you must be certain to come up if it is so that you can leave, and if you can-not get any way must come on the cars and she will pay your fee. I must now say something in regard to our health. we are all tolerable well except Sis Sarah She is complaining to day. Uncle Manuel is no better, than usual. Oh I must not forget to tell you we got a letter from brother Dick last Wednesday night. I cannot express the joy and comfort it gave me he was in good health and what is much/better than either health or wealth he had professed Religeon. religeon my dear brother is the greatest treasure we could possess in this world. It is better than all earthly treasures or happiness, for haveing true religeon, though we be poor in this worlds goods, yet are we rich in the thinghs of a better world. Remember my dear brother the verse in the sacred bible, Prepare to meet thy God. nothing that you could do on earth can give me half so much pleasure as to hear you had prepared to meet thy God for I should then have a blissful hope of meeting you in a better world where pain and parting will be felt no more             in love to you and all, In haste

            your affectionat Sister Mattie

 

[margin: Give our love to brother Tom when you see him]

 

PS

            Dear brother, if you cannot come up you must write immediately and let us know.

brother Dick wrote us word he had written to you, if you have gotton the letter and wish to answer, I can tell you how, as follows.

 

                                    M^r Richard J. Britton.

                                                Winchester P.O.

                                                Frederick Co

                                                            Virginia

Company C. 9^th regt Va Vols.

 

[envelope: paid 10 cts/Winterpolk Va/ Oct 2/Master William C. Britton./ Chester P.O./

Chesterfield Co/Virginia/ Care of D^r John Howlett.

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