May 19th 1865

Dear Husband I take up my
pen this morning to talk to you
on paper we are well at this present
time and hope this may find you
enjoying the same blessing we had
a dreadful hard rain here yesterday
evening and hail with thunder and
lightning to day every thing looks
dreary it is cloudy and foggy and
cold we got your clothes at rameys
yesterday Adam Fouse was over
and brought them I was very
glad you may be sure he got
Adams coat Also william got
our sheep and sent it home
it is gone again but I have the
wood we hauled wood yesterday
before noon they made us a nice
little sled and and give us toby you
would laugh to see us at work
we make a first rate team
[Page 2]
we planted our potatoes this
week and helped to plant corn
we are looking for you home
before harvest I think the
time long now till you come
home I hope and pray it will
not be long I try to keep up my
spirits thinking it will come in
the right time I hope and pray
you will be home against fall
at any rate I received your
paper mailed at Williamsburg
I like it very much I also received
two letter which stated you have
been sick but was nearly well
I feel very uneasy about you
sometimes but I know Jesus
will take care of you and that
comforts me I sent you five
dollars last week which you will
get I hope I received yours
safe it was six dollars I have made
[Page 3]
15 dollars marketing already
and hope to make a little more
you know I sold 41 pounds meat
and a great many eggs and some
10 or twelve pounds of butter they
give thirty five cents cash for buttr
I have not been to Markles
burg yet but goods have fallen
considerable grain looks well
there will be plenty of hay the
grass looks beautiful I have
written to you every week since
I got your first letter and some
times twice a week one week
I did not get to write on account
of high waters I could not
get it to the office to day
I can send this to Martinsburg
if I am not too late you will
please excuse my writing you
can spell it if you try now I
would like to say much
more if I had time but I
[Page 4]
hope you will be home
then we can talk it all
over at our leisure try
and take care of youself
as well as you can we
are trying to take care of
ourselves so we dont get
sick the children are all
very good and kind to me and
do all they can for me they all
send their love to you and want
you to come home soon which
I suppose you would like
to do if you could now
I must close I give you
into gods care and keeping
hoping soon to see you at home
keep in good heart all will
come right in his own good time
now I bid you good bye
for us short time
your affectionate wife Mollie
Benson
good bye