At home Dec 3^rd 1865

 

            Friend Gabe. I hope you will not be offended at me for not writing sooner for I could not well do so under the circumstances in which I have been placed. I do not much approve of making sunday the day for answering my correspondents letters but it so happens that I seldom find a favorable time for writing on any other day. However while I am writing I am at no other mischief

 

            I should have replied sooner to your last letter but at that time I was gathering corn and not being accustomed to that sort of work it made my hands so very sore that I could not write or hardly do any thing else and they are but little better now but I guess if I keep on they will become hardened or I will wear them completely out. You must infer from this that I have rather tender hands but not that I work hard for such is not the case I assure you.

 

Well I am still enjoying myself finely much better than I had thought could but all the soldiers in this vicinity prefer their present mode of living to the one the have recently abandoned

 

This has been the most favorable fall I ever seen for people to do up their work and prepare for winter There has been no bad weather yet to amount to any thing. This morning however we have a nice little snow of about four inches in depth just enough for good sleighing and I have no doubt but that it will be well improved for the young ladies have been wishing for the last month that there would come a snow so their beaux could take them sleighing. It is rare sport when it is not too cold to enjoy it. I have a nice span of bays that are in the habit of running away sometimes in the harness I think they will do firstrate to sleighride with for the faster one drives the better the enjoyment unless perchance two lovers are together then folks say drive slow and somehow my experience / in this matter has proved to me that such is the case

 

One exception to this rule however I have seen and that was five years ago A party of some four couples went to a school meeting about 8 miles from here and one of the worst days I ever seen in my life. I was one of the number and my partner was then the same individual I wrote to you about some three years since and the same that I expect for a partner again, but not as it was then for I expect in the coming spring she will become Mrs C. and we will be partners for life

 

She often speaks of the days when we went sleighing. So you see friend Gabe you were not mistaken in your supposition in regard to my situation but enough of that. I hope you did not think I meant anything serious in my last for I had long before given my heart and pledged my affections to one who is worthy of receiving and returning as true an affection as man is able to bestow or woman to receive

 

We were the recipients of a very agreeable surprise and pleasant though short visit from Bro. Will last week. he has returned again to his school and Brother Ezra has gone with him Will intends to take a regular collegiate course

 

Well I have no more to write this time So hoping to hear from you soon and that you are well I bid you good by for this time

 

Yours respectfully

Geo. Campbell

 

Mrs Gabe Conarroe    or some one else

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