Belinda Iowa Oct 9^th 1862

 

My Dear Husband.

            On last Monday Mary and I watched all morning for the mail and when it came we could hardly wait for Melissa to get the mailsack open as soon as she began to take out the packages I was too impatient to wait for her to open them and I opened them one after another expecting to find the looked for treasure. Imagine our disappoint- when the last package was opened and there was nothing for either of us. I could not imagine what was the cause of both of us failing to hear from you but I knew that it was not the result of any neglect on your part. This morning / however, we were rewarded for our waiting and watching by the appearance of the well known packages in the morning mail I am glad that you was so thoughtful as to send the plan of your camp. I now have a correct idea of the place that I have pictured in my mind so often since you have been there. I have not got anything new to write to you except that we have had some very bad weather since I wrote to you last. I guess it was the same day that I wrote that we were trying to get off two boilers of molasses that we got off one in good order and had the other one nearly ready to take off when it commenced raining and rained very hard all night. We had to let it stand in the boiler all night and / the next morning we went out in the rain and finished boiling it down but it was spoilt and and we did not mix it with the rest. We have not done anything since until today. Harvey and Ira ground enough for two boilers full and we boiled one down and made very good molasses. We did not get done until ten oclock tonight and I expect it is now about twelve. I thought that I would write a few lines tonight for I knew that I would not have time tomorrow. I know you will excuse me for not writeing much this time for I am getting cold and sleepy. I think I will have more time to devote to you in a few weeks, but be assured that I will write just as often as I can. We have not heard from / the mountains for about two weeks. We have been expecting to hear that they had started home. I expect that they are on their way now. Tell Dave that he ought to write to Harvey. he has been talking about writeing but he has been busy every day on sundays and rainy days too. no more at this time, but!

 

            Believe me your loving wife!

                                    Louisa A. Reed.

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