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Gowanda Dec 24, 1857,
Dear Bob
I received your letter a month
ago and this is the fourth time that
I have commenced to answer it and the
Lord permitting I will do it now.
Yes I am aware that of our Uncle
and Cousin are marriade and it
seemes to me that Bill a [writing smeared] had better
waited a few years before she assumed
the care and responsibility of the marriade
life, but, I presume that Aunt Meary
and Bell know better about such [illegible]
matters than I do. Ihope she will be
happy because she is one of our
best cousins and one of my best friends.
We are very busy in the store now
we have more business than we can
will attend to, I suppose that Father
lives to have it so busy but I can
assure you that I do not. I do not