Walworth Co
Wisconsin
Feby. 17/ 64
My dear Brother
Stephen is just about to send a
letter to his Brother. I enclose a
few lines to you just to ??? up your
memory and let you know that we have been hoping to hear from you for some
months past. How do you all do?
How much I wish we could hear often
but since poor Grandpa Smith died we seldom have a
Faversham letter. I am
thankful to say we are all now in the enjoyment of good health.
My own health was poor last summer, suffering much with pain in my side
but is now better. We are having a
very pleasant winter although we have had some fearfully cold weather. I presume
it is likely you my hear something of it through the papers. About New Year was
the coldest that we have known of it to be since we have been in the Country.
On Thursday Decr 31 was an ever memorable day to us,
Stephen had an engagement to marry a couple about 4 miles in the country,
the young lady a daughter of one of our local preachers and as is generally
expected I must go too and dine with
the party.
Thursday morning came cold and snowing fast, however, we bundled up with
shawls and buffalo hides and off we went.
We reached the house in safety as did all the rest of the wedding party.
The ceremony was performed, the dinner over but still the storm ???.
We started for home, but did not get more than 10 yards from the house,
were obliged to stay there all of us
until Saturday. The next day was
terrific, the thermometer was about 35° below zero or 67 below freezing.
This will give you some idea of the intensity of the cold but we had a
good time and returned home in safety.
I think I have told you Helen Smith lives with us I am obliged to have
help and I would rather have her than a stranger.
We pay her a dollar or 4/2 per week. Polly and Willy came to visit us at
Xtmas. We heard from Polly today
they are all well.
I heard from Eliza a short time
since and I thought from her letter she seemed to intimate there a possibility
of our not getting Uncle William’s property.
Can you tell me at all what she means.
I do trust her fears are groundless, it would indeed be a sad
disappointment. I have kept hoping
and expecting to hear something respecting it.
Will you let me know what you think about the matter?
I was thinking a while ago I would write to J. B. Sharp and see if I
could sell my claim do you think he would buy it at 5 or 10 per cent or
is there anyone else you think would. I mean provided you think it is not likely
to be settled for some time longer.
It would be such an advantage to us, now, gold is fetching 50 per cent but when
the war closes (as we now hope it soon will) it will assuredly be down again.
If you will write me at once I should feel greatly obliged as I am very
anxious to know about it.
How is your dear wife and boy,
do give them a kiss from me with my best love.
How I wish you would send me your photographs.
You don’t know how much they would be prized.
I have a splendid interleaf
Accept our united love
and believe me
Your affectionate Sister,
Sarah Smith