RK-170

Dear Bob, I steal time, altho' 'tis mail-day to scribble this short message to you. Dr Blaney has been very sick with the Cholera [ink stain] (in a whisper) Her - rick sat up with him one night and says he didn't expect he would live till morning. Mrs Blaney has been lately confined [illegible, ink stain] as soon as they are both; [all three underlined], able that is in a week or ten days. They are coming out to spend three or four days. Freer will probably come out on Saturday with Madame and stay till Monday. Asa has been quite sick but is now recovering. I went down to the [illegible] with Nellie this a.m. - out of bed at 1/2 past [4?] o'clock! What thinkest thou?

Poor Anna is no better. Freer is attend ing her. Dr. Will, wanted to send her home [by , crossed-out] with Nellie but those [a, crossed-out] (I had liked to have sworn) Culvers wouldn't allow her [etc?]. I feel very [illegible, crossed-out] uneasy at her staying there. - They are enough to craze any one's head. - I've got such a lot to say but darsn't take your time - I only started to give you this message and here I've allowed myself to be run away with [illegible, stain] in this manner. [Uncle Will wants Fanny to drive over to "Rann's", "O" "Aux", or "Des Plaines" Sta tion for himself and me, next Saturday A.M, July 2[6?]th. We will come out in the 8 o'clock train and be at Rann's at 9 [illegible, ink-stain] [illegible], and then [illegible] careful: underlined] Adieu Dear Bob, love to all and a thousand kind wishes from Thine , ever Frank Wenesday Eve. 1/2 past 8 o'clock Send answer by Gibbs

If it rains very hard or is otherwise unfavorable Fanny had better not come F.