In the Country near

Zanesville Sabbath Oct 4^th

 

Dearest sister                                                                         

                                                                                    This afternoon finds me seated for the purpose of answering your kind and ever welcome letter which I received about a week since but I have been very busy and put of writing till to day three weeks ago to day Rufus died. it all seems like a dream to me I cannot realize that he is dead you know that he was away from home so long that it seems that he is there yet untill I think for a moment but Alas it is true very true. to day he is at rest I hope and he is in the hands of a mercifull God and he will be mercifull with him but I feel that all is for the best all though it seems hard we should not murmer nor complain I hope we will hear from Tommie soon Mother tell pa he ought to write to Capt Mical but he puts it off he is very / busy there has been so many soldiers going over the Central Road. they have been running day and night. Oh Dear I am tired of writing I wrote to Ike Lane this morning he was in the last battle but he came out safe and sound. it has been cool all to day. it feels like fall.

 

Well Jule I would like to see you so much but I dont know how long it will be before I shall see you. Mother spoke of pa sending for you often but he thought you could not come but Mother thought you ought to know that he [?] so bad all though you have abused her and talked about her when she never done you a bit of harm in the world I think it is so wrong of you to act that way when you never saw her nor know nothing about her no mother was any kinder to a child than she is to us I cant imagine how a person with a Christian heart can act so I could not in the day of Judgement what will be done if you dont like her here what will you / do then A step Mother is not so bad if the children do their part I know by experience

 

well Jule after so long a time I am going to get married. perhaps you will not believe it but it is true. in six weeks from Tuesday being the 17^th day of November I am to be married if the lord is willing and nothing happens Julia can you come and be bridesmaid if you can come let me know as soon as possible. pa is not able or he would send for you but Rufus buring expences was seventy 4 dollars and it will take about that much to fix me up I am going to have everything nice. we are going to board untill spring and then we are going to housekeeping if nothing happens I do hope you will come I will send you all a card of invitation the family join me in sending their best love to you and all the family write as soon as you get this I want to know whether you can come or not. Will sends his love to you write soon and dont forget I remain your

loving sister untill Death

Matt /

 

P.S. Julia I mailed that paper at the same time I did your letter I sent you papers before but you never said wether you got them or not

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