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McCutchen days William has gone to J. W. B. Thomas Mr McCutchen is

cutting wood feeding & keeping fires I pay him by the

Lou sick month (See Contract) (Friday 28) Lou is sick bad cold &c

the weather is too cold to do any thing like work.

Mon 31 The Old Year 1866 is going Out It is Cold & the weather

verry changable We are doing nothing only trying to get

last day) Wood during the day & feeding This is the last day of the year
of the )
year ) and near Mid night & it is snowing This day & night is much

like the shiftings & changes of the Whole year The season seems

to partake of the disposition of and character of our political

condition, changing & varying from side to side, Stealing

robing & taking every thing that can be got hold of has been

the order of the day & night We have had extream hard times

to live & but little confidence in but few during this year

hard times We have lost many of our valuable friends & near relatives but

they have died at home & not in Camps Prisons & battle fields

Yet the diseases of the Country have been somewhat fatle.

Good bye Old Year 1866, with all its past troubles & pleasures.

They have been not a few troubles, & some pleasures. We are

thankful that it has been no worse & hope the coming year which

will take place in a few moments may be a year of Jubilee and

that peace & friendship may return once more to our troubled

land & that we may feel thankful to divine providence that we