Cherry Valley Feb 9th 1865
Well Cousin
I suppose you begin to think i dont
now to answer your letter and I dont blam
you much but it was along time before
I got yours as you will see by this I
am not at home our folks got yours
and then sent it on to me I was glad
to hear from you once more I didnot
know what was the reason you dident write
for I am sure I have answerd all the letters
I have ever rec what is the reason Mike
dont write any more the last letter we
have had from him was in July when
have you heard from him or Simon
tell Simon if he will write to me I
will answer it I have not forgoten
him if I was young when I left there
and have always thought I should return
[Page 2]
some time but have almost given it up
for the times is so hard and we have so much
sickness in the family I saw Father Tues
day the family was usuly well Father fell
last Nov and hurt his shoulder it laid
him up quite aspell he has done some
work since but he cant get his coat on or
off yet with our help. Melia goes to
School this winter. I hope you will except
this collar after so long atime I should
have writen before but thought I would
send it the first time I wrote you will
see it is not just like Aunts but I thought
I would make like mine which is newer
stile. I would like abead collar but I dont
know how to make one, Oh say hant your
boys got the tan off enough to look com
fortable yet so you can have their photographs
taken for me I mean to have Father and
Mothers taken this winter also have some
co[pied?] from my brothers pictures dident si
mone have his taken when he was at
home Mike promised to send his but
we have not seen it
[page 3]
I should think you might send your
Fathers whole family photographs to us
and we will do the same, how does
Cynthia Youngs and famly do, Melia had
a letter from Ophelia last week she wrote
her Uncle Henry had been there and had
now gone east I think he was s[??] not
to make a call here, I do hope you hear
good news from those in the armmy no
body knows how to prise a letter from
a friend until they have one go in the
army and then have them stoped is
what I hope you never will nobody
knows how I miss those kind words
writen by my brothers Uncle Alon
zo has been home on a furlough his time
was up the 29 Jan I suppose you know
he has been sick with the chronick
diareah it was some better while at home
but now well, the last letter I had from
Hannah Morean she said Henry was dead
but dident write whether he was killed or
was sick
[page 4]
I wish I could see you I could tell
you what kind of aplace I have got to
work and I dont know as I dare to
write I like it as far as the work is
concerned for there is but three in
family but they are so aristocratic
that I would not stay if I was able
to do farmers work well I guess
you will be tired looking at this
pale writing and they have all gone
to bed so I guess I will stop writing
and go to bed to please write soon
and often and I will answer all you
will write my love to all from

Hannah A Barrett
Ps Direct to Cherry Valley Ny
in care of G Clyde