Washington N. C.
My Dear Mother Dec 22nd 1863
I make an atempt at writing
you a few lines once more, if the Lord Willith
that I may finish them; and you Get them
I hope Dear Mother that they will finde you and boath
Sisies [1] well and getting along snugly. we heard from you
yesterday by way of Mrs Ann Windley Joseph Windleys
wife. I was pleased to hear that you were all well;
I pray that God will continue to bless you all.
As to my health it is as good as I can expect “oh” yes
Should I Expect to be healthy and robust all
way, no assuredly not. Brother has had the rhu
maties for some time, at times he is cofined for a
few days, then a few days beter. I hope if it the
will of the Lord that they will not last him
very long. I Shall try to send you this letter to
marow if I can get a chance also some
Coffe Sugar Snuff etc for I expect you are kneed
ing them Eere now as I have had no chanece to send
you any thing for some time, Some flour and salt I
expect you kneed them which I will send the first
safe opertunity of safe ty which I can get if any
before you send again, which I hope will be as
soon as you can get any safe person to [?]one for you
I hope mr Lilly is well Ere this time.
[page 2]
I might have writen to you before now only for
neglect but I hope Dear Mother that you
will excuse me for not So doing, for it is not no reason
that I am geting cold “oh”no; God forbid that
I should cease to love you or do you reverence as I
aught of as a dutiful Son should. Lois & Nancy
all I love you all. May the Lord continue His precious
blessings to you is my paryer for Christ Sake; may
He continue to enable me to assist you as much as
possible also Brothers. For I donot want you here
if it is the Lords will that you may live where
you are.
Wednesday morning Dec 23 Dear sister Lois I
have just re ceived your letter this morning of the
9 Just the one you Sent by mr Harris I am happy
to hear from you that you are all well and buisy
Killing hogs, I am sory that I could not get your
lettes sooner; I or we are gowing to try to send you
Some things by the first safe chance we get also
Send you word when you may send Daniel is that
is if he can come where we can get to him we
would have sent before now but we expected mr Liley
every week untel we heard he was sick; since then
we have had no chance that suted us.
Dear Sister I wish you to write me a long litter and
tell me all the news wich you spoke of in yours of
9 inst it is interesting to me take your time of [?]
Knights and tell me all you wish
[page 3]
“Oh” How happy would I be Dear Mother
if I could come and spend Christmass with
you all “O” what a plaisure it would be to me
so to do; but I cannot so I must be content
with my State and trust in the Lord.
yes trust in Him who is able to ceap me
from all harm, Him who has been So mercyful
and Kind to me all my life; He who has preserve
me in health when Justice cried cut me down
Bless be the Name of the Lord for truith mercy
and loving Kindeness. I can say of a truith
that he is a merciful God, to think what a desp
rate siner I used to be sining against God Almighty
Yes what a siner I was yet he sufferd me to brath
the breath of life. “Oh” my Soul prais thou the
name of the Lord. Yes Dear Mother I love to prais
the Lord for his Loving kindeness to ward poor siners
“oh yes I could not see my sinful self untel He reve
ald His Love, no I was blind and could not see.
Behold Jesus suffring and diiing on the Cross for
Sinful mem; yes the lord of Glord the Prince of
Peace. may I never do anything more to grieve Him
Holy Sperit is my desire. may the Lord grant you
long to live yet my Dear Motehr is my prayer for Chris
Sake. and [then?] [a?] call you to a blessed abode. the lord bless you
Sisses little Winie to So I will close by subscribing myself your
Affectionate Son J Esse Harrison