Jan the 31——64

 

            Dear Companion I now take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you of our sickness do not be alarmed dear husband for I think the danger over your dear little Sibby has been called on a sick [?] again with what I shall call the smallpox some of the doctors wants to call it something else and some call it smallpox she has just lived throw it and that is all she is now able to set up a little o john never did I see one of my famley suffer lik her night and day did I stand over her little suffering form at first she was vomited till she would faint no one would come near the house to lend a hand night or day but the doctor after she got so I could leave her Phi and Priny would take turns seting up o how patience she is as soon as she got so she new eny thing she wanted to se pa she sayed if pa only new how sick she was he would soon come home O john if you could see her how you would cry grait spots covering her hole form she lay for severl dayes and nights unable to be moved a hares breth if it should leave her poc marked let us not murmer for God has spared her sweet form once more to us she is the same mild sweet little sibby the smallpox is hear priny had it in a different form it did not make her sick for she was vaxanated and so was the rest of us but some did not take and how it will be with tuley now I know that if I take it I shall pity the children I dont know how they will get along we cant even get Lol to come to see us she dont want to expose her little babe and self I have not see her or heard from her in nearly a month it is / three weeks since Sibby was takeing sick the doctor Delong said to day I must nurse her carefull yet which I shall endeavor to do

Feb 4   '64 well my dear husband I have delayed severl dayes writeing I must now tell you how we are Sibby is still ganeing all excepting her eyes the smallpox has fell to her eyes she is amost blind with sore eyes and now I must tell you dear little tuley is on the bed with a scorching fever she was taken yesterday I shall write again in a few days and let you no how she is ma is the last to take it so far how it will be I no not if I dont take it I shall think strange after nurseing all the rest throw it it is now evening I expect to be up O how I wish you was hear to set up with me I have lost so much sleep I am all most to sleep now but O my dear little children my ansiety keeps me awake. wall I have just had to stop and take up my little tuly and hold her a while she is very hot with fever she says tell pa that she is very sick and you must come home I have just received a letter from you and I was very thankful for your good [torn] aw when as I did advise you to not reinlist mabe I said too much I wish you to think [torn] well on it and be your own judge as to [torn] a great meny hear disinterested [torn] foolish for advising you to not reinlist [torn] hear is fore hundred and too dollars [torn] that would be a good help for you and / I think the war cannot last but a short time longer it is true you could come home and see us but o it would be hard to part again there is a resk to run eather way so do as you think best and I will think it right if it could be so fixed that you could enlist in this state then I could draw something too but do as you think best make up your mind and send me word ameaditly as I shall be ancious to no do not delay writeing now John do not be alarmed about the children for I will spare no paines I think they will be better for the smallpox is only the varyaloid so it is not so dageres I will not send meny stamps this time if you dont come home I will send more soon good night will write more next time no more [torn]

 

wif untill d [remainder torn] /

 

will do O I want to see you so much these little sick children how they talk of pa pray for me throw my trouble write soon and often do you have good socks boots to keep your feet drye no more this time a due Ruth Scoville

            if you need writeing paper let me no

 

                        write soon as you git this

 

            if you dont come home soon I will

                        send more stamps

 

                                                            no more tis time

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