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I really expected before thee went away, thee would tell me about that mysterious trip - We begin to have Strawberries - Howard likes his school - If it had not rained we intended to go to Luther's to-day - They expect Josiah home soon - Orville Short's wife has gone to Mass. intending to work in a factory - she has left her little boy at Orlando's - Mary had the largest school last first day evening that she has had atall - & it was very interesting & orderly - J.G. Putnam gets no further intelligence respecting Isaac's remains - I think they are giving up the expectation of having them removed.
The daily papers give news of a little advance of the army & that a final struggle is only a work of time when victory is surely to be ours - if this is so how revolting is the thought of the awful carnage that must attend it -
I have looked strong for a line from thee every mail this week - I hope thee does not think we have neglected thee, and intend to pay us in kind - Mary joins me in most affectionate remembrance - thy mother
R. B. Stevens
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East Montpelier 6th mo. 9th 1864
Mt dear Willie -
Thy last letter to us was dated the 24th ult. Ann tells us she has one of the 25th I was really grieved that thee looked for a letter from us so long before thee got it - it did not occur to us that we [underline]could[/underline] write till we heard where thee was - I hope if thy health is sufficient thee is now with Capt. Galt. aunt P. said first day she had heard thee had gone into the ranks - this I can not believe, till thee tells us so -
We are sitll having a good deal of rainy weather - yesterday was pleasant, though not very bright till just before sunset - Christopher & Mary were married at home at 9 A.M. had a company of 50 invited - very select - the bride said she should not ask any one that she did not want - so, of the families of the nearest relatives
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Mary has written to thee twice & this is my second attempt - The bridge by Norcrossed was again made passable on 2nd day last
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"one was taken & another left" - the company were invited to [deleted] attend them as far as Marshfield to dine, on their way to the White Mountains - Walter Little & Fanny Sibley going with them - ten carriages went by here looking as "merry as a marriage bell" - his health, however is very poor his friends think he can not live many months - if so, how poor will look her very costly out fit, to her widowed eyes -
Asenath Nutt Bowen has come home from the West in failing health - some think she will never be able to go back -
There was a funeral sermon preached at the Center on first day in memory of Elhanan Ormsbe - & yesterday - Sanders was buried - the man that lived so long on the Cadwell place thee knows - On first day Elden Warren's youngest daughter was buried - & yesterday a widow White of North Montpelier - so we see the destroying angel is busy among our quiet hills as surely as on the stormy
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battlefield or in the horrid prisons or the sickening hospitals - all proclaiming to us, "Be you also ready" - Let this great & all important work, my dear boy, be more & more our daily aim -
Mary & I spent the day up home on 3rd day - found them looking very nicely & cheerful - I think my health is constantly improving - On 2nd day night I had a short hasty letter from Timothy they were very well - & had just returned from a trip to New Mexico & were very busy in getting ready to start again, they did not then, know where - he said he had received a letter at last from thee, but as thee was now at home he should not write then, tho' he had intended to, that evening, & it was then 10 o'clock - his letter was dated the 25th ult. - he did not realise how soon thy furlough was to be over -
Ann sent me a flower in her last letter, which is so delightfully fragrant, I send it to thee
