My ever dear Husband

     Yours of the 25th Ist came to hand a few moments ago, and I hasten to reply. How relieved I feel to get a letter from you, to know that you are still alive and well. I also received your's of the 20th yesterday and would have written immediately, but was and have been suffering with a pain in my face and ear I have been in bed most all day, and this evening every bone in me hurts fit to kill. and the distress and trouble of mind make's all worse and me less able to bear my sickness. but when I think of you being confined with the crowed you are and have to undergo what you do, I think I should bear all my affliction's without a murmer of complaint; but be assured my dear Husband there is one, who is as much distressed about what you have passed through as you are yourself if not more so, and make you my constant

thought day after day. and night after night, but I feel that God does not intend to let this state of things last much longer. It has been a mistery to me why God has permitted this thing to be as it has been. but God perform's his works in mystirious ways, and is intended for some wise and good purpose, we know not of. Only put your trust in him and be and live a good religious Christian man. This is what I have often prayed for day and night. There is never a day or night passes over my head with out me praying for God to take care and protect you wherever you may be, and I have faith to believe the Almighty God will do so.
     John Meek [i.e., John M. Meek (b. 1838), the author's brother-in-law] wrote to you as soon as I received your letter yesterday. and I intended to write to day if I possible could. your brother's and friend's would have written to you before this time but was doubt full whether a letter would reach you, as we had received none from you in some time. but I never failed to write you once a week and some times twice, I wrote you twice last week. How unhappy and miserable I am when I get no letter from you. but try to have

the greatest of patience, and think you are still blessed with good health.
     Your Father says to tell you when he forgets his existence, then he will forget you, and that for the last too weeks after you was taken away he neither eat or slept to do any good. and that you was the last thing in his mind when he went to sleep and when he awoke. Your Father will write in a few days. Do not entertain an idea for a moment that wherever you may be that what ever may befall you that I could ever forget you. and that I share ever sorrow and trouble with you. Your wife Father Mother Brother and sister are equally distressed and trouble about you and will ever remember and think of you. Your Brothers deserve to be proud of They have shamed the men in working for your release and comfort, and would undergo any thing for your release. I shall ever remember them with a great full heart for all they have done for you. and your Father's family have been as kind to me and little Jimmie as if I was there own child. I love them all as Father Mother Broths

and Sister's
     Your Father Mother and my self spent day before yesterday with Amanda and Patton. they are as anxious about you as any. Amanda's baby is very sick I think quite dangerous something the matter with its throat. the little thing suffer's greatly. Little Johny is getting much better. There is still considerable sickness in the surrounding country. I trust and pray you may not be inflicted with any of the disease that be among the crowed you are surrounded with. would that I could remoove you from among them this mineat, it would be my greatest happiness to enjoy. Your Mother is greatly distressed about you and wishes ever day she had the power to bring you home, and wishes for you to be with us to enjoy her good butter and black berry pies, but your Mother is a good christian, puts her trust in God's and feel's that he will take care of you and bring you safely home.
     Jimmie is well as fat as you please and call's his poppa all through the day and especially when he goes to eat, he dances and whistle's, and we ask him who learned Jimmie

to whistle, he says Papa. I hope before many more days and week's you will see Jimmie, and all of us. Mother and Mrs Galbreath, spent the day with us last Wednesday. we all enjoyed it very much. Mersers Galbreath and Johnson's family are all well Mrs Johnson had had a spell of crop colic but was well again. Mr Galbreath and Johnson need not be uneasy about them for they have plenty of kind friends. I know a great deal if I could see you that Ito tell you that I can not write, but trust we will meet soon and then reveal all. your friends are still working for you only be patient; I know it has been a long time to wate, as long to me as to you. I have been distressed and troubled about you being anoyed about me writing about my Father and Mother not wanting me to leave, Its very natural they should want me to stay with them. I would not write any thing to you that would trouble or anoy you for the world. They are as much distressed about you as any one and as anxious to hear from

you. Mother has a big turkey fatning to kill when you come home, says she does not intend to kill it untell you do come home.
     Keep in good heart you will come home before you think about it. Give my kindest regard's to your friend's write as often as you can and we will all do the same. May God in Mercy sanctify all our afflictions to our growth in grace. and grant us at last an entrance into that sweet home where "the wicked cease from troubling and where the weary are at rest
Ever your truly and devoted and affectionate

Wife
Lizzie