Belinda Iowa Oct 25^th 1863

 

My Dear Husband

                                                            I am at Pa's now. I came over yesterday evening and am going home this evening. I received two letters from you last thursday no 19 and 20. I assure you that we are all very anxious about David. I hope he will come up all right yet. They cannot write when they are prisoners can they. I think you was in about as dangerous a position as if you had been in the battle you spoke of

 

                                                            Pa is going to finish makeing molasses today. Jim Harden's were here all last week makeing molasses. Ma has got her flannel wove and has got a piece in the loom for Mary I expect that my flannel dress will fizzle out for I have tried all over the country to get rolls and canot get enough. Olly has got her's made and is wearing it Melissa is getting to be quite a musition. Pa has bought that dulcimer for her and Jenny. Pap and Mother are going to start to Jefferson day after tomorrow. Jenny is talking about going to Uncle Tiffs to stay all winter I am not certain whether she will go or not. Pa and Jim are feeding their hogs. they are going to ship them I believe /

 

I have just weighed Olly. she weighs 18½ lbs she is not as heavy as I thought she was. Melissa says that the copperheads are so badly beaten that they could crawl into an auger hole and draw the hole in after them. You sent me a little piece about the children and I have just read another piece on the same subject which I will send to you.

 

                                                            Pa is going to kill a hog this evening and Harv is is coming over to get a piece he (Harv) is going to commence gathering corn this week. He has got the mules weaned he put them in the field he says he dont know what to do with them when he gets to gathering corn unless he sells them and I dont think that he will be very apt to do that. Ira shot two black birds with red wings. Olly has got one of the wings to play with she thinks that it is awful pretty. I wish I could think of something to write but I have not heard anything new for so long that I have nothing of importance to write about. Ira went over to our house today and he said that Jim and and Frank Mead and Frank and Caroline came while he was there. I believe I will only send a half sheet this time and prehaps I will have more to write about next sunday.

 

                                                                                                your loving wife

                                                                                                                        L A Reed

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