At home

Oct 12^th 1865

 

Friend Gabe.

                                    I expect you will soon begin to lay by a scolding for me for not writing to you when I ought to write but now I am seated pen in hand and you will soon know that you are not yet forgotten by me.

 

Both of your letters have come to hand and their contents read with real pleasure. I should have replied to the former one sooner if I had not thought you would reply to my last one

 

I do not know of anything that would have afforded me greater pleasure than to have been present at your sister's wedding. I feel sure I could have enjoyed myself well, but circumstances were such that it was impossible for me to be there. but I do not know that it would have been for the best for me to have been there, for if I had come I expect it would have been as much or more for the sake of persuading my old friend Gabe to change her name as it would have been to see your sister married That remark may perhaps offend you but then it need not for we are a long way apart and likely to remain so, unless something in the future occurs to bring us nearer, but you will not show this to any one will you? no of course not and forget it yourself soon too perhaps

 

Tis raining today one of those nice soft gentle falling rains that one loves to sit and listen to as it patters on the roof. To me any how it is pleasant indeed for it recalls to my mind many incidents in the last three years of my life when the rain fell thick and fast and we had no shelter to protect us from the storm but these are brighter and to me far happier days 

 

The health in this country is only tolerable good Crops of all kinds are on average yield business brisk and every thing in a flourishing condition There has been no frost yet and vegetation of all kinds are drying up without it.

 

I believe I have no more of importance to write and part I have written had better not been written but you know who wrote it

 

                                    For the present good by

 

                                    From George to Gabe.

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