p.

in calling to see if the likenesses were
ready for us, she said she did not feel satisfied
with them and wished us to sit [underline]again[/underline]
and this is the result, just as well
as if dressed for the occasion though
I conclude most of us do feel so far
interested as to wish to appear in a becoming
dress, and have the rumples [underline]smooth-[/underline]
ed out of [underline]our kerchiefs[/underline], but that
has not troubled me half as much
as not being able to hear thy dear boy
has been a permitted to visit his own
loved home, and friends once more.

8th Fifth day evening. When I laid
down my pen the other day, I thought
to have resumed it that evening but
did not and since that time we have
had company with the exception of a
few hours, to day we have had the very
pleasant company of Russel Taber &
wife, Lewis Taber and Wife, from Ohio,
and James Harkness and Wife to din-
ner. They have now gone to Amos Batteys

[page break]

a part of them to spend the night.
They with their families are all in usual
health, as are I believe all other friends of
thy aquaintance in these parts with the
exception of Amos Batteys wife, who
has been quite sick, but is able to sit
up most of the time now, though she
continues quite feeble. They had
a grand daughter buried day before
yesterday a daughter of Wm Hoyt.

Our last dates from James was 7th
of last month, they had left Browns-
ville Texas, had arrived in New Orle-
ans, but were just reembarking for
the mouth of Mobile Bay - some
accounts state that Mobile & Atlanta
are both taken by the Federal Army.
we hope very much to get a letter from
James this week, indeed there
may be one waiting now at the P.O.
I am also looking for one from thee
as well as from several other friends
but it is more than two miles [h?] so