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In answer to thy last queries will say that my bed is good as I need, much better this winter than I should have if I was in a train. have a bed - big, no! tick filled nicely with hay, on a comfortable home-made beadstead, to lie on, a nice buffalo skin, two large gov. blankets & a quilt for covering, & if it is cold & I choose to take a man as bed fellow have about twice the above amount of bedding, so thee sees I have no danger of freezing. I regard to food will say that we fare, probably, [underline]very much[/underline] better than one family - - - - in - well! [underline]5[/underline] at least, in Kansas, some times think we live almost too well. Our rations are more than we can use of "[haughply?]", sugar, rice, & beans, bacon, [deleted]
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Leavenworth, K. 3d. 1st 1863.
My dear Mother
Altho' after 9. P.M. I seat myself to write thee at my usual dull & hard manner of composition, of [underline]late[/underline] it has seemed very irksome & disagreable for me to answer my letters. shall soon be as unable or unwilling to write letters as I used to be in my [underline]youthful[/underline] days. suppose the antipathy arises from want of practice, which has, of late, been rather limited, having been quite busy, or perhaps frorm the fact that, being so busy,
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have had but little time to think & get myself into a real writing mood.
I received a nice lot of letters last 6th day, am not able to get my mail much oftener than once in two or 3 weeks. Thine & Mary's, thine of the 15th, one from Aunt Mary, & two others were received last mail day. am glad you all are so well. you all & [underline]thee[/underline] especially must be very careful of your health. I am very well as usual, have had a [underline]slight[/underline] cold for about a week, but of no serious character as at some other times. Am still getting along swimmingly allowing me to judge, and [underline]from[/underline] the way my direct employer
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seems pleased with all that I do. he is [underline]very kind[/underline] & [underline]obliging[/underline] indeed, as all are finally, [underline]above[/underline] or below me, with whom I come in contact. he told me what I might expect in the, - - - no! I'll say nothing about the future, even of this spring or summer as the present & past is as much as I can handle here. please take the above few lines in no way as self praise, for altho' I [underline]'no'[/underline] I am [underline]too much[/underline] given to it, I heartily condemn & dislike it. I simply write 'nowing it will please thy true mother's heart to learn of the atttendance of such agreeable, prosperous & pleasant times on thy boy. Thee must keep asking about [every?] point in my business or living thee may wish to 'no' of as I omit many I suppose
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(in place of which they give us beef) flour, occasionally potatoes, some molasses soap & candles (we dont eat the latter articles, however) plenty of of corn for the shelling, of which after grinding, we have excellent johnny cakes. We are allowed a cow for milking purposes, which enables us to have excellent coffee at least, of which we drink a [?] concoction three times per day, usually our over rations we sell, buying with the proceeds butter, eggs, [etc,etc?] as we like. coffee at 2 1/2 lbs for $1.00 brings a good many eggs at 10 cts. per. doz. so thee may be [sure?] we do not let the [?] man suffer much & if written testimony is not sufficient
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please step in as the 2nd bell rings for dinner at the "Herders Hotel," (Russells' Mills, Big Stranger,) Leavenworth Co. Kansas.) be satisfied I found uncles family well exceping Charley who had been [underline]dangerously[/underline] sick; but was better. was astonished to see the bright-eyed boy so emaciated. their baby is very bright & smart. hasn't a name yet, they are rather particular I guess. suppose James will be on his way here before thee gets this, as uncle sent money to George day before yesterday I believe. "Give love to all enquiring friends" accept as usual very much thyself from thy loving son
[underline[Timothy Stevens.[/underine]
