Bristol Elkhart Co. Ind March the 12th/63
Dear Son
We Recd your welcom letter of the 8th Inst. & ware very glad to here from you & also glad to here that you are so comfortabley & pleasantly situated on a good boat & we hope this pleasant situation may be your happy lot during your stay in the servis of our Country But we are very sorry to here you have got the Mumps; there is not much danger in this disese if you avoid taking cold; dont expose yourself in any way: even dont wash yourself in cold water avoid night air & drafts of wind for some time after the swelling has subsided exposure would be imprudent & dangerous; this I know by sad experience when I had them I was sick a month / Perhaps you remember in Ohio I treated some very dangerous cases of recession mesteses (or relaps) of the mumps; Peter Miller for one he took cold when the swelling had nearly subsided; & he was a very sick man; Sol Rogers; Danl Brown Darby & many others most midle aged men suffered much from the same caus; the same time with children it is not so severe as growen persons; your book will direct you some I think keep tolerable warm & dry & ware flanal on your neck & the sweling but if you should take cold use some sweting tea as catnip balm &c with a little capsicum in it; as we fele some anxiety about it I hope you will write us soon as posible & let us know how you are geting along with it /
The boys are all writing some to you tonight & I have not much news of interest to write I recd a letter a few days ago from John Zimerman A Trego Fred Stiner Mot Parret &c they ware all well; but perhaps I mentioned this in my last letter I am geting forgetfull by times we are as well as usual & hope this may find you well & contented & happy too
Saml Pontious is sick of Typhoid Dr Conglin & Ekleman ten him his recovery looks doubtfull to me old Mr McDanals is gaining slowley the boy is up & nearly well. the neighbors are generaly well considering the very unfavorable winter we had here so very changeable with much rain; but it is cold at present here & frequent snow storms /
I hope T. J. Albright has called to see you Let us know in your next letter what he is in evry respect. I hope he has not forgot his kindred although distant & in humble circumstances, but strong for the Union & nothing but the Union for Ever
I intend to send H B Wrights speach he is from Welksberry Luzern Co Pa I knew him & herd him speak frequently at publick gatherings & in court. he is a keen lawyer he is a Democrat of the rite stufe & has a son in the Armey loyal too I have nothing more to write at presant I will send John Gormans likeness he had it taken with Mothers to send to you; he is not very hard Copperhead but his youngsters & son in law are, but they are too ignorent to be anything els
Your Parents
We join in love to you
Wm & C Albright
Wm O Albright