p.

The deep blue sky is spotted here and there with
fleecy white clouds; only the trees are visible above
the earth's deep carpet of white, which is spread
so neatly upon this part of "terra firma", but
which does not in the least retard the motions
of our planet. I think I could much prefer
snow to mud, though I do not think it
so very pleasant to ride through mountains
of snow, but there is one advantage and
that is snow can be [underline]shovelled[/underline] and mud
cannot so easily though perhaps it
would stay where it was put better when
the wind blows hard. Willie, Did you
ever hear of any body that [underline[shovelled[/underline] snow?
If you never did don't ask me to tell you of any
one that has. I like the poetry you sent
very much had seen them all before except
"The Volunteer's Mother", how full of feeling those words
are. It would kill me if he fell;, but, no!

His country calls him; let him go!

'Tis sad and true that in many hearts this
strife is waged in prayer by prayer is won

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The Bridge of Sighs too is beautiful.
I partly learned it some time ago. Have
you seen the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
I think you canot help liking that.

Am sorry that you have been sick and
[underline]very[/underline] glad that you are better. Though you
were not cared for by those who would
have been glad to minister to your wants
yet you had the thought that you
would not have been allowed to suffer
for want of attention if they could have
given it, and that was worth something.
Do you feel as strong as before? I expect
you know enough to be careful of your
health, don't you? - I congratulate you upon
your success in [underline]rising[/underline]. But now don't [plauge?]
poor Levi too much by riding his way [underline]all[/underline]
the time, for it may be he will you would
fall off your horse into the mud and
that would be too bad a wish for a gallant
little sergeant. Ann has been to church to-day and
now is "sweetly reposing upon the bed"