Dear Brother:-- Enclosed I send you a letter which I got out of the office one day this week so that if it is on business the sooner it is answered the better. We are all well at this time and I hope that you are well and may soon return home cured "entirely" Jack was over since you went away and says the folks are all well as far as he knew. There is nothing new or strange in our city that I know of.
Monday -- 29th -- I did not get to the post office on Saturday evening and I thought I would not close & send this off till I had a chance to go to the office and if I had sent this off this morning you would have missed the bit of news I have to send you now, and if you

will only have patience I will proceed to tell you what it is Now, dont get into such a tantrum You see, for the last month or two saints of the churches have been praying for the destruction of the whisky shops and gambling [?] and last night their prayers were answered in a measure, for between 11 and 12 oclock the old frame building on the south side of the square, between Woodbridges store and Shields new brick was discovered to be on fire, and despite the efforts of the firemen and citizens was burned to the ground. The losses were John Christians Saloon, where the fire started, Knobbers barber shop and family, John Vances saloon, Dan Millers Grocery, John Sudburys shoe shop, Baldwins shoe store and shop, and George Markleys furniture store, the latter three saved a good deal of their stock. There were others in the house I do not know But I must close so good bye

James