Mound City Feby 15, 1865.

 

Dear Brother Georgie.

                                    I was very glad to hear from you again; I was awful lonesome when I first came here, but I get letters every day from the "folkses" at home now and begin to know every one, and wont be homesick any more. You mustn't when you get old enough to go away from home, Georgie, be homesick ever more than two or three days at a time, because there aint any use in it and it will only make you feel worse.

 

            Is Miss Henry your school teacher? you must be a good boy & study—but dont study too much at night & take care of your eyes; When you study so long ( as I used to do) as to make everything swim before your eyes, dont keep on studying (as I used to do) but quit & shut up your book.

 

            Didn't pa make a funny mistake to send me two of his pictures and try to have me think one of / was Ma's. You musn't tease pa & ma to have your pictures taken, because you have got lots of time before you to get them taken in. Aunty must hurry up & get her nose well.

 

            Dont run off and marry those young ladies at your school you write letters to, Georgie, I dont want to have you marry yet awhile. I am glad Rossie is getting better: he will be well enough to go and see the young ladies before long, wont he?

 

            Well Georgie, after a big dinner of oyster soup, beef pie and custard ditto, I again sit here to finish your letter. As I sit here at my right hand is a window I can look out & see across the Ohio River into Kentucky. the river is about a mile wide. the bell is now ringing Ding Ding Ding—Ding Ding Ding for the workmen in the Navy Yard to go to work, and they are stringing along in front of the window. The "Black Hawk" is in front too tied up to the shore. This Navy Yard is where they make ships and fix them up, and all these men are at work on some ships. Wouldn't you like to see them make a ship.

 

            Mound City takes its name from several little hills or mounds that are here one of them is inside the / Yard. it is not half as pretty or large a place as Kenosha, and when it rains Oh how muddy it is. such a boy as you would almost get stuck if you tried to wade through it.

 

            Give my love to Rossie—tell him he must get well quick so as to go and see the young ladies.

 

Your brother

Hank.

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