We were very happy to hear
from you Thursday – I had almost given
up hearing from home again – we had looked
for a letter from the last 6 mails – I was
quite provoked – what is the ^reason George is so
stingy of his letters? I know he would
write me oftner if he were living in California

You ^wrote about James having been sick – he must
have had the run of fever – as Doct says – he was
sick so long – I think this Influenza is very nearly
as bad as lung fever – I have had the trial of
it – Freddie and Ella both have had it or
rather are still under the effects of it – for
2 days last week I thought they would
have a fever for all we could do – sore throat –
hard cough & – The disease is prevailing here
now – this week Abby and I are having it –
rather light – Doct has it for a 2 weeks past – but

not so bad – Ella’s mate – a little Julie Rand
died with it this week – she had been very sick
before and was getting better – when she took this.
Her mother feels dreadfully – she was her only daughter
had one boy the age of Warren – she was just a year –

You feel bad about the war – I do
too – and thought about my brothers the
first thing – but there are so many volunteers
that I don’t think it will be necessary to
draft – I know George wont go unless
he is obliged to ^{and very sure I(?) nor J wont} – there are so many
want to go – there were 2 went from here – but
the father of one has bought him off – one
regiment is quartered at Portsmouth rope walk
and if that gets full they will go to the old South
Church – the Citizens company are at the fort.

You ask Thomas says – he finds public
opinion is so strong against the south – he don’t
say quite so much – one day last week
he was up to P. and the next morning
up went his flag – ours was up before
and is still up – he has his only the pleasant
days – It looks pretty to see them – and

then Freddie & Warren have theirs flying from
poles on the front fence – Odill has 2 from
there and the Otis children 2 from the
parsonage – in P. nearly every horse has
his decorations either little flags or rosetta

You have got Mr Bayery – at the
methodist he is a nice little man – a good
preacher – and a firm republican every one
liked him here and Mrs Otis says his wife is
fully his equal – she was sick a good deal here
and out of town some so it happened I never
got acquainted with her – called once she was out of town
it was difficult for me to leave home so I ^have never meet
her – but we are well acquainted with him been
here a great many times for medicine -&
hope the boys will get acquainted with him

Freddie and Ella are gaining – both have
lost flesh – look rather picked – Doct says
he has left all with the free north and

Lincoln – he is pleased to see such
an uprising of the sturdy sons of
freedom – Thomas says the South are
not traitors – he and Doct have long
talks and strong and Abby is all
South yet – pitty she wasn’t down there

(tell Samuel to write me by Tuesdays mail
or I will choke him – write – just what
I want to know most) he will know what I
mean

don’t worry mother I
think it will all come out
right – and don’t pray that there may
be no war – I want war – I want the
blood thirsty fire eating rebells [sic] – to bite
the dust – hurrah for freedom free
speech and a free north –