December the 29th 1863
Dear John I will endeavor to drop
you a few lines to night wich le
aves me well also all the family
except mother she is complaining
very mutch to day she has tech
of feaver to night violent cold
I supose to be cause of this
Dear John I must tele you that
Brother Benjamin has landed
saft home once more he come
home last Sunday night about
ten oclock he came over heare
yeterday to us Oh I cant tell
you how I did fell whin I met
him a Brothers care and love
how [??]are an dear are they to a sister
he looke qute harty but some how
tuff an hard he inqured abut
you to me when you would come
home I told him some time in
January I looked for you hom
so he said he would be happy
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to see you before he lef home agn
he has a thirty days furlow
he will stay home till the
twenty second of February next
so you wil houme before that
time I trust by the goodness
of our maker I shal pray for thus
to be your luck an mine tuo
Needem was heare yesterday he told
me he saw Christmas day said you
looked fine very harty an in
good spirits and had plenty to
eat an drink so I am glad
to heare sutch good newse from you
My Dear I have bin all day fixing
up a box of rich provesion for
you I am tierd plum down
Dear John you must invete the
Capt to take a Christmas din
er with you when you open your
box so you must treat him
with all the respect posable in
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your power so he may not forgit
you when you ask him for a fu
rlow to come hom I will look for
you in the coars of 2 or 3 weaks
anny how at the farthest time
Dear John I hav heard of a new
medison for the itch to [wi??]
oil they say will corect it immediately
to grease with it so I will send
you a little by Joel so you can
try it if you think proper to
do so it has a bad smell but
that is not as bad as the each
I dont think and the are som
lys soap in the box to wash
with that they say is good a
remidy for it any on could do
so you can try all if you like
My Dear you must make a ring
sisy ses pa ust make her one
ring to ware if you pleas loving ris
pect to you Affectioante R. E. Jefcoat
[page 4]
December the 26th 1863 [1]
My dear an Affectioante father Id most
humby divot a few momints in order
to drop you a few lines which will inf
orm you that I am quite well for I am
sasy as ever my cheeks are like a fell
bloom rose in the month of may
Dear pa I would like if it ware
you could have whings of a dove an
then oh how of ten you see little
Marcella Dear pa I have spent a
linely christmass with granmother
an aunt Anny she give plent of
sweeten dram to drink an I got tite
you no I love brandy tow well for my
good I had to drink I an you
both as you did not come as I expe
cted Dear pa I am anxious to see you
I talk of you evey day I hope you will
come home to see sisy for longs I have
got heep of things to teel you when you [???]
pa tell sugar darlin houdy for sisy
kiss to pa receive the same for your self
tell uncle Henry houdy tow Marcilla Jefcoat