Dear Brother -- Since I last wrote to you I have received two letters from you one of May 27th and the other of June 5th I am at a loss as to the reason why you do not get my letters for I have written regularly every two weeks. But it may be that some of your letters are at the hospital as they were directed to that glorious? institution. "My last on this morning." What does that mean? have you turned shoemaker? or are you going to bring your next letter home yourself, and not trust it to the slow action of the mails and so give us a double surprise that of delivering yourself and letter at the same time. Well, you see that we are not dead nor played out yet but would be a good deal better off if such was the case, but I suppose it is better to "suffer the ills we now endure than to fly to others we know not of and by approving end them." I hope you will not say goodbye, yet, at least till you come

home and stay a minit or so at least come on McDuff and damned be he who first says hold !enough! Well, as is usual with my every Saturday I went to the post office yesterday and got a letter, and on opening it I found that you had sorely "repented of the day that you did ere deny me" of the privilege of a letter from you, and to tell the truth I did not think that you had sent me your LAST unless you have packed your hat and intend to hunt a sit further North, afraid I do not think your old Boss has given you your time yet, though I am of the opinion he has about finished up the work he had on hand. I am glad to hear of your returning good health and spirits -- hope they may continue to improve until you have entirely recovered your good health and the presence of your friends at home. Yes I think as you do that this war is about played out and the great monster slave aristocracy done killed entirely

We are all well, so far as I know, Jack was over since I last wrote to you. The folks at Somerset were all well when he left home. Mollie has left our house and gone to board at Sam Howers. Pete Smiths son inlaw, because her aunt, who ought to have been her best friend here, as she was among strangers is her worst enemy now and why? Because she took it into her head to be jealous of Molly and me. Oh what a miserable life does a jealous person lead. They see a cause for their evil thoughts in every shadow and the mind is so prone to evil that it is impossible to put anything but an evil construction on the actions of others. If I am cold and reserved in my actions it is proof of guilt and if I am sociable and pleasant it is proof of guilt strong as Holy writ. such a life may be pleasant to some but it has no

pleasures for me and if the way was open, I should most assuredly go into the army. But what cant be cured must be endured, I suppose
     Our city is unusually quiet now some of the Licking county boys passed through here on the cars last week going to Columbus to be mustered out of the service they will soon be home I think Dave Nevins got badly hurt by being struck against a bridge while braking on the cars. Chauncey Ball was buried last week -- a larger funeral -- But I guess I have written quite enough so I will close this disconnected scrall. Wishing you speedy return home. I am as ever yours for the Union

James