Norfolk City July the 21
65
Dear wife
I received your welcome
letter last saturday it brought me
good news you was well at the time
you wrote I hope you may still injoy
the same blessing when this Comes
to you I am well this morning and
glad I can send you that much good
news I have not much other good news
too send you I must tell you I am
yet in norfolk City and not in
Harrisburg I wish to be thare it wood
be oun my way home whare I long
to be to day is very hot last week was
plesant the [1] it is glad news for me to
hear you are still well and in good spirits
I hope you may Continue in that same
spirit I at times get almost out of
hart thinking you mite be sick
and kneed my help and I Cannot
be with you to Care for you as you may
stand in kneed of my kind Care other
times I feel in good hart knowing God will take of
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you and every thing will be for our
good if we Can trust in the Lord I
pray much for you that God will take
Care of you it seems all I can dou for you
until the Lord is pleased too bring
me home too you I pray much for
the time too Come soon I hope it will
not be long before the time may come
I Cannot send you much better news
then before about getting home one
thing is shore the year is one week
nearder out then when I rote be
fore but I dont think thare is enny danger
of that I still have a good hope of geting
home in four or six weeks the war depart
ment is making different movements
and Changes I think when things because
more [settled?] we will be sent home we
must try to keep in good hart and
still pray God to bring the time soon
your letters Come all right I have got
three sience the 15 of June I know you
dew your duty Mother I have got most
all two or three I have not got
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the one with the 5 dollars in I
never got and I dont think strange of
you Mother for giving me a good advice
I know you feel Concernd for me and wish
me too get home safe to you dont feel
uneasy Mother I dont think of drinking enything
my desire is to get home safe I will
take all the Care possible and feel
glad to have your kind advice at
eny time if the Trough Creek frends
has not wrote to you Cence I left you
dont let that trouble you Mother
you have friends I am your kind friend
and ever will be God is your friend
he is allways with you and I pray
the Lord I may soon be with you
your letter makes me feel happy your
faith is so strong in god and he has
so kindly taken Care of you sence
I have left home my dear wife we
will still Continue to pray for each
other God will answer our prayers in
his own good time and bring me home
safe to you my dear wife and Childern
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I am glad you Can write to me
that God has answered every Continued
prayers he has taken Care of you
and kep you from all danger and
harme I pray he may still Continue
his blessing and kind Care over
you I will try and keep in good
hart and you will too Mother
I think all will Come right in the
end your kind letters and prayers
is much Comfort to me hear
when I feel loansome and out of
hart I often read them over and
pray God to your kindness to
my good we have every reason
to be thankful God has merciful
to you and me he has spaird our
lives and as your letter states I am
shore he will bring me home to you
my dear little Childern a word to
you before I Close I am verry glad
Mother Can write to me you are good
Childern it gives me mutch Comfort
when I get a letter from home from
Mothers kind hand stateing you are
kind and good to here I know is is so
I pray the Lord to bless you dear
Childern take Care of mother good bye
I must Close I give you all in Gods
Care Dear Mother and Childern he will
be your friend in deed good bye dear
wife and Childern I hope
to see you before long F W Benson
your friend and husband