Otto     Aug 12^th 64, it 2 years yesterday since you started back when Sick)

 

Now Boys, its just qr past 8 oc Pa & Sis gone to bed but I can't until I tell you they have been over East near Gram Utleys to a Soldier Pic nic to day & I to Zinas & about noon Em & Sophia came along & brought your last Sundays letter, for which I am very thankful for & glad to know U had the priveledge of getting together & visiting & shareing Ur coarse scanty rations with each other, strowling around to see the big sights & wonders that probably my eyes never will see, although I should if I had money & the Lord would permit; my anxiety is great to take a view of our great National Capitol. I am truly glad U take so much pains to gratify me in sending so many little presents. those verses are splendidly got up & I shall have them / Framed; 15 cts for one qt of milk. well that looks pretty steep to me but suppose you are glad of the chance to get it at that. Well Dolphin Range gets Ur share. I see that he dont go hungry if his master does. I spoke to you a bout selling him for $5 but will do as U say. he is good deal of company for me. well I must talk fast. I thought would write till 9 oc. We may go to Waverly tomorrow & want to take a little get up of a letter as Eph says & U must excuse me for not writing so U could have another letter sun, to read from me. am glad it happened so lucky in getting the one last Sun. I am anxious to know if Stephen has got there or whether he stopped to Elmira & sent on that letter & money. I wouldnt ask him to carry anything more but would give him a few Raspberries & a few for U if had known he would took them but buy what little U can with your money & take the / good of it; Dolphin I didnt send the Neck ties for he said he might not go farther than Elmira & so I wouldnt trouble him. how does Ur shirts socks &c get along You hant told me & about your washing well Eph I dont know but I will let him stay with U. I know it must be a great consolation to have some one there; do U think U will stay there. I hope U can if Dock drives hearse why does he have to be so far from You. Zina read Ur letters & glad to hear from U & Mary Ann says she shall write to U. he was very sick all last night with Cholera Mortus, some better to day. Pa & Deloria had a good time she said she eat 10 cts worth a piece for U & Pa 25. the money they get they send for the soldiers in the hospitals. Eph do U get any of it I see Ur paper & envelopes are marked the Christian Commission dont U have to pay for them Nick Cook has come on 30 day Fur got to Thids 11 oc last night to day carried him home to Hanford I went out & shook his / soldier hand, is wounded through the chin, had it done up, says its getting along well but he is awful poor to what he was 3 years ago when I last saw him. he left Murpreesborough, Tenn.Tues; O that poor Sammy I would write one cheering word to him if knew exactly how & where to direct & that he would get it. Well Grandpa is on the gain slowly the poor old man is pretty feeble & Grandma about as usual. I guess the rest all well. They dont say much about the RR lately but the last I heard it was going here & they would be through here to work in Sept. Well Eph the colts are quite peaceble lately; didnt say what you thought best about the harness. Mason that was in Ur Co told Pa last Sund saw him to Mr Rogers that he would make a good silver plated for [ink blot] or common black, for 26. Pa hant concluded what he will do about getting one yet. Write & tell what U think about it.

 

You must have a good visit this week with Stephen in the place of a letter if he is there I have had visitors or been every day this week except yesterday. Pa & I went on the Hog lot & got 2 pails full the nicest black berries U ever saw. Deloria Laura & Sarah went East to the last day of school. well my time is up & qr past 9. So Good Bye. read this together & write the same when convenient.

SOURCES