Camp near Bell Plain
Va, March, 20th/ 63
Dear sister,
I recieved your letter
last night Why did not
you tell me before that you wished
to go to school this spring
If you wish too attend the High
school at the village do so by
all means I will furnish
you with the Green Books
not only to go this spring but
in the fall too
Dont be afraid of the expense
my purse is at your service
in school matters, altho something
it is emty but if nothing happens
but good luck there will be
a little in it hereafter,
I could have gone to Maine
this week but did not choos too
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you need not look for me
until the end of the war if
my health dont fail me entirely
and then a person cannot get
a discharge (and papers all right)
untill three days after Death,
I have not heard from Temple
since Sam’s visit, I meant in
my letter that when Sam told
a story in which he is concerned
some allowence should be made
for stretchage, - he always
makes out in his estimation a
good story on his side, his
stories like Ned Buntlins may
be founded on facts but sometimes
the truth is so stretched to make
it cover a large space that it almost
looses itself amongst the doubtfull.
Did you see any of the letter
that I wrote to Sam about
the Mill If they had let you
red them you could judged for
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yourself. I am about getting
a deed of the Mill and promises
and that is one reason that
I did not wish to get into any
difficulty with Sam, or have
anything too say about his
and Dan’’s troubles. I wrote
Sam that I had promised the
Mill to Dan this year and expected
him too have it – hoping that
would be enough for me to say
about it, but as Sam has got
mad with Perkins he wants too
injure him by keeping the mill.
not for what it will benefit
himself but to spite and
plauge Perkins, as they are
situated it would help
Dan a great deal the most
to have the Mill. I dont expect
to get any profit off either if it
is only keep in repair. I shall be
satisfied I dont think.
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that either Wilder or Perkins
ought too expect one too give them
a great amount for past favors
but if they could agree to run the
Mill while I am gone together
and share the loss and gain I
would not say a word.
There is a no Sugar trees here.
Oak, Hickory, and Chestnut is
the previlint growth of hard
wood, I dont have much
to do, - occupy most of my time
in reading, playing chess
and Checkers – sometimes
Cards, - but not very often,
The weather is anything but
pleasant some nights it will
be quite warm and the Frogs
will favor us with a tune
and the next night it will
snow or freeze and poor frog
has too dry up or freeze up