Mr William W Criswell

            dated Jan 10^th

 

it is with pleasure that i take my pen in hand to let you know that we are well and hope that those few lines may find you all the same James has got a ball put through his hand but it is getting better i am going up to calidony thursday if it is clear i heard that the rebs liked to catched you as you / was going out i would bin very sorry to heard of them catching you i haf bin well and hearty every since you went out i hafent done a bit of work since you went out i haf been loafing i heard from aunt martha and her and uncle Gish was sike but thay was getting better all the rest of the fokes are well the smalpox is raging through the cuntry there has been four cases since / you went out and the scarlett fever is still worse you must haf your likeness drawn of on a card and send it to me and i will thank you very much you must excuse my riting

 

my pin is Bad

my ink is pale

no more at

present

 

William W Criswell

 

yours respectful

Lewis A Grimes

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