Squaw Grove Jan 3^d

 

Dear Brother

                        It has been a long time since I have heard directly from you and as I do not like to wait longer than is necessary I shall write to remind you of my last letter but which I have received no answer to. I have no news but what will probably be old to you as the folks at home get the start of me in all that would interest you but I flatter myself you'll like to hear from me any way so I shall keep on and tell you in the first place that we are about as well as usual and have lived through as bad a snow storm and two or three as cold days as I ever saw.

 

Our New Years was spent hovering over the fire and trying but unsuccess / fully to keep warm.

 

Christmas day Mother and Ottie came over here and went home the next day in the rain.

 

Ottie is at the Com. Col. in Chicago when he is there but the greater part of his time is spent at home which I guess is just as well for him for he is not very stout yet. Tommy is at the Dr's and is quite a young man but he seems just as he used to and is just like the little boy Tommy.

 

I presume Celia keeps you "posted" on Aurora news but as she may not have written to you since Christmas I'll tell you that Gertrud Holbrook was married Christmas Eve to a Mr Hardin from Cincinnati. I go to town about once in three months and then do not have time to hear much news which I believe is a scarce article anyway I wonder where you are this third of Jan. eight oclock in the evening. /

 

How do you get along for eatables drinkables, and wearables nowadays. Do you feel any of the benefits of the Sanitary Commissions now in your rounds? Has Cousin William Henry got back to his regiment yet? Where are Dr. Will Peirce and Mary? Nellie Merrill wrote to me that Charlie Buell wrote her that he was well acquainted with Mary. He is in a Wis. regiment somewhere's there

 

Our brave boy thrives wonderfully we call him a fine looking baby and to me he looks more like you than anyone else. But you know we always looked more alike than all the rest and had all the beauty in the family noses and all. and the nose the baby is bound to "continue." He is supposed to rejoice in the noble name of George Royal Winslow The Royal is mothers choice for William Henry's father / I will send you some photographs of Dar and myself which were taken in Kalamazoo last summer I do not think they are of the best but they may refresh your memory so you will not forget to answer my letters any more. If you have any photograhs you wish to preserve just send them along we have an album not near full.

 

When you see Mary give her my love and remember us to both the cousins William.

 

Katie says tell you she's got a nice Christmas cradle for her dolly

 

Don't forget to answer this

 

                                                                        With much love from both of us

                                                            your sister Mattie H. Winslow

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