Letter from Rachel B. Stevens, dated 1862-03-23

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deep, that they did not try to get to the grave yard with horses - but drew the hearse by hand - We heard that G. Steward & wife were expected home yesterday - I want very much to see them - but the passing is such that I have not tried to go to meeting for two weeks - our little meeting house is deep in the snow & it has been very bad getting to it before the last two feet of snow - Thomas went out to uncle T's this morning & expected to go to North montpelier after our girl - Hannah Jennings, this afternoon - Charley has been out most all day seeing to the stock - they have 16 lambs - have had three pairs of twins - one of these has died, which is the only one, they have lost - we milk eight cows - one got hurt some way & died - the first cow Thomas has lost -

Nelson is getting along well with his limb but expects to be laid up all summer.

There was a mistake in Ann's last letter which said the school would close last week - so Tho' went to the village 5th & 6th day evenings for her & not till today did we know how to account for it when I looked at their advertisement & found it closes next fourth day - I am afraid thee never will get this my dear boy - R.B.S.

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[upside down:]

Thomas has drawn thy $7 per month up to this time -

The package of letters I have put safely away I strung the handkerchiefs on a string & tied them to the house & spead them on the snow -

[right side up:]

East Montpelier 23rd of 3rd mo. 1862

My dear Wm.

The box thee sent came to us very unexpectedly last week all safe. I wonder thee had not used some of those linnen rags to wipe thy nose, instead of such soiled handkerchiefs - I do not know how thee happened to send those stran[ger?] blankets & comfortable - there is a report here from the Boston journal that you are all to be prohibited from writing. I never can be reconciled to this & feel or hope that it is not so - Mary got a short letter from Henry last week - he said that the letters would be fewer - & necessarily short - & this looks reasonable - but I do pray that we may be allowed a little word - how can I bear it if this is cut off? I hope thee will be preserved from any rashness & keep out

of danger as much as possible - it is an awfully solemn thing to die - & oh may I be permitted to look upon thy face once more - Perhaps Mc. C. is doing all for the best - but might they not as well have fought at Manassas as to have died by torturing fever in camp & now be forced to follow the treacherous enemy farther into their own territory - where as the season is advancing & very soon you must feel "The sickly sunbeams glare, Through the hot & misty air" - I am all the time fearing some deep laid stratagem in which [deleted]in which[/deleted] there will be a complicity of some at the north who are high in office - but I suppose, to those who do not abhor bloodshed, the news from all quarters is called very cheering - It seems that "Fremont is again in the field - & again rising to favor after his severe trials - I think he must love his country to be willing again to do her bidding after such severe repulses. I have felt much interested for him &

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believe he has a vast many frends all over the country - How does thee think the President's plan of emancipation will operate?

I suppose Mary informed thee the particulars of Horace's accident - he seems to be doing remarkably well - had his cloths on & went into the kichen with crutches in a week - Jay Lewis is also gaining finely - Harrison starts back tomorrow - I have not seen him to speak to him - I hear he is impatient to get back - Person's folks have heard that Levi is better - Sophia has got quite smart - It is said that [Asenath?] Nutt is to be married to a - Bowen - brother to James Langdon's wife - who resides west - it is thought she & Fanny will be married at the same time this summer -

Jesse Bassett died last 2nd day & was buried at the east village on fifthday - the snow is so unprecedentedly