Fort Snelling, Dec 16^th 1855

 

My dear Sister—

                        Your letter of Nov 18^th I did not receive until yesterday, when it came with the under sleeves enclosed in good order, and I think them very handsome, and am altogether pleased with them. I was interested in the playbills, together with the prologue, & epilogue, and would have much liked to have seen the representations. they seem to have involved nearly all of the young folks. I think "Box & Cox" must have been good, with Steve Stevenson & Bill Chadwick they are both such quizzical acting chaps. We have but little vanity here and see each other so contantly that an out and out stranger would be a luxury. We all had another sleigh-ride yesterday, but it was rather a goose party Mr Swaine (the Q.M.) / being the only masculine we had. We lost the road, for it had just left off snowing, and the prairie all looked alike, but got into the right track again after riding about a mile over ploughed ground &c. We had a concert in the evening which was very good. had some very fine touches of the Opera. It is rumored that there is to be a dance at Major Hunt's tomorrow evening but "quien sabe". Capt Bee has just returned from Fort Ripley where he has been on a court martial. he saw Major & Mrs Day who were well—We get no news from the east, as the mails are a long time in coming, and are very irregular. we have not got the President's message yet. They seem to be stirring up an indian war in Oregon & the ninth regiment of Infantry has been ordered to the field we hear. Gen Wool has also taken the field. Mr Ayres & I both got papers from David yesterday and as I have not been able to / raise one to send to him I am going to write him a note, and hope Lucy will not take it hard—Mrs Gane gets letters from Concord frequently and says Gan Baker has sold all his possessions there, and is going to the southern part of Iowa on the Sioux river to locate himself. his wife is to go, is going to do her own work. Gan Baker's sister wrote to Mrs Gane, seems to me it is a queer move, but I presume he has some political end in view. Do you ever hear anything of Stine? Now that George Hayes has abandoned the field perhaps he will come on the [?] again. I was astounded when mother wrote me that G Hayes had entered the Divinity school. I do not wish to judge him, but I can scarcely feel as if he were entirely sincere, and devoted in the newly chosen path. What does Mary say to it, or have not the Chapp's returned yet? I see Fannie Chadwick had parts in some of the plays—when does she / go to Barnstable? I suppose she will visit her friend Lottie on her way. I so often wish I could have some old friend come in, and chat awhile, for it is dreadfully hard work to be on one's guard, and on their good-behavior too, all the time and in a garrison it is scarcely prudent to talk of even the weather in an emphatic manner. Has anyone heard anything about "Nellie Porter" since she sailed? I feel quite anxious to hear how she gets along. I hope she will be fortunate I am sure, for it seemed such an undertaking to go so long a voyage with two children. Charlie has gone to bed, and is fairly asleep, after talking to himself about half an hour. I put him into bed wide awake, and sometimes when I think he has been asleep a long time I hear him talking to himself, or dolly—he says he is Mama's Chic-a-dee-dee, particularly when he wants anything he feels a little doubtful about getting—When do you go down east? Give my love to all. Mr Ayres joins with me in love to Mother and yourself. Write soon to your affectionate sister, Emily—

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