Letter dated 1861-10-08

We are having a long rain -- I think of you - perhaps without shelter - shivering & faint - but perhaps this equinoctial storm may not reach you - or may have come thence first - as it is behind time -- we have not yet had frost - the sweet corn is excellent — the trees are rapidly changing color with old age & throwing off their richly died garments.

I suppose the legislature will convene on fifth day - the governor has not sufficiently recovered from the typhoid fever to be here at first - but it is thought it will not be very long first — 4th day morning - Thomas tells me it is thought the governor will be here, election day & that the soldiers now encamped in the village - viz. a co. of Cavalry and one of infantry, are going to escort him in — — — I think there had hardly been time for thee to get letters as we could not write 'till we knew where to send - & when you were at B. we all the time heard that you were going immediately & did not write -

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East Montpelier 8th of 10th mo. / 61

My dear Willie

I received thine from Camp Advance dated the 2nd inst. today, I wrote to thee the 29th ult. & directed it as thee dictated in thy letter to sis Mary from "Soldier's Rest" - Mary has also written to thee - for when thee is cold & hungry, it must seem good to have an evidence of warm friends at home, if they are powerless, to releive thy bodily suffering - cold & hunger are not what I feared - but perhaps even this those other more dreaded evils are being realised - but I try to think of this as little as I can. I know that sleepless nights & sorrowing days can do thee no good & would do me much harm - & so I try to be a true philosopher - & trust it all in wiser, mightier

keeping - I hope thee & Henry will use all the prudence & care in your power to preserve your health -- it is hard to think you do not have enought to eat - Perley says their Reg. has sold large quantities of their overplus "meat" to the amount of several $ 100 - Levi wrote home lately that a dog, here, would take of a mouthful what you get at a meal - if they are wasteful, they do not deserve pity —

I also got a letter from our dear Ann today - she did not get a letter from thee till last seventh day evening - & as thine arrived safely after so long a delay I hope thee may get ours - Ann says she is well - thinks of you most all the time dreams a great deal about you - some times very bad dreams — but I suppose she writes thee all the news of herself & the school - & the knitting &c. Lorinda was here last week - she says they are knitting at Marshfield & intend sending a barrel of socks by Perley — Thomas heard today that David Fuller intends going

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back with Perley — — Mary has spent most of the time at the springs since thee went away - she thinks they have helped her - Melissa is going home to rest & I am afraid new help will put her back — — Last seventh day evening we were pleasantly surprised by James's arrival - he had an opportunity to come home with Jared Taher - he seems very well and tolerably suited - likes the teachers - & says he studies much harder than he did last winter — — Abby B. is so far recovered that she often attends the morning exercises -- P. K. Glud is there, I suppose seeing to the business of his brother - S. Burnett is married to a — Whitney of Middlesex Ann wrote to Susan & sent one of thy likenesses - with which she was very much pleased — Mary had a letter from Timothy last week; he was very well & now intends staying with his uncle this winter - I hope he will -

that we get, is liable to be contradicted the next day — The sun is shining beautifully this morning & it is not at all cold - - I would be glad to have thee and Henry drive with us - thee should have some nice cabbage &c. & Henry some pumpkin pie — I do not know but that the friends of all the boys here are in usual health - Mary Persons tho', is not very well - - Give my respects to the boys & tell them I hope we shall not hear of them sleeping at their posts - not be cause I should think it such a sin - but there is such an awful penalty attached — — as to thyself I hardly know what to say to thee - for in general, in whatever position my children have been placed in I could say, do your whole duty of a soldier - every fibre of my heart shrinks from — — I desire very much to hear from thee as often as consistent - I am afraid the rebels are leaving their places about them so as to decoy you onto

[left margin bottom to top: their ground and surround you - In life or in death, I am your own loving Mother

I have heard that the VI. soldiers that returned, were a very filthy looking set, infested with vermin, & had had no washing done in their abscence - - can it be that my boy will be so? - I had thought there would be danger of vermin - & believe they are as intolerable a nuisance as can be on the body - a very small quantity of unguentum, will effectually keep them away, or destroy actual settlers - if there is an opportunity to get some, I advise thee to do so, as a very small tin box will contain enough for two — Did thee get a parcel of old linen and a bit of old cheese by Levi - & did Henry get a pair of stockings by Horace - I did not have time to sow on the name, after I knew I could send them.

There have been letters in Walton's pa lor? that ere some thoughts were from thee - is it so? — We have once heard that the 4th was to be sent to Hatteras, & I feared all communication would be cut off - but all the intelligence that

I intended to send this letter of thee so when I wrote last, but forgot it - Mary has since had one from Lydia - but she has told thee so I presume - they had 16 bushels of cranberries - gave half for picking - Please thank Henry for his kind note & tell him I want he should do so often & perhaps I may sometime think I can write to him - but tonight - I have written to Timothy & James - & am tired & it is growing