RK-650

41 Sunday Morning School Room Dec 12th 1858

RK

Dear Brother mine - Wash

Father, Major; and Co all received lettesr from you by yesterdays mail, we were right glad to get them I assure you. That letter to Co was rather nonsensical, I must confess, although my brother wrote it.

I can't conceive how you can be living in a furnished house, all by your self. Please explane.

Charlie came home last night. He is looking and feeling remarkably well. He will go back to Chicago either to day or tomorrow; as he is going down to Bloomington to attend some convention; and then he will come home and remain until after Christmas: probably till after Newyears.

Aunt Gene wished you to have a particular invitation to her christmas

party. Uncle Hiram expects a good many of his friends from Chicago to be there. I think he is foolish to invite strangers to a family party.

We did "charity work" all day yesterday. Rosa is going to Chicago soon and we were helping to make her drapes ect.

This is a very gloomy morning. It is neither snowing or raining but is trying to do both.

We did expect Mr Cutting and Miss Gooding to come over to day, but the weather is as unpleasant they will scarcely be able to come.

I do all sorts of things these days: but not altogether what I would like to do.

I do not get time to read and study as much as I should like to.

although we do a great deal of sewing we do not appear to be any nearer the end of our work. I don't know what we should do if it were not for our machine.

I have to stop to talk to Mr Chase every five minutes, he is writing to you too. Mr Chase is going away the first of next week, I do not know how long he will be gone; we shall miss him very much. He is a very pleasant man; and one can learn a great deal from him; whatever we read he explains as well. I think he influences Maj more than people usually do.

Uncle Will just came over; he has rather tedious times coming home in such cold weather.

I have been reading Criticismms by Chas Kingsly, they are extremely interesting. Kingsly is such a bold, manly writer, I admire him much.

We were glad to hear from Mr Ulke, we would all like to be remembered to him.

Don't tell the large stores about your sisters. I am afraid we might happens to see some of the people

some time and then we should feel rather awkword, knowing what they had heard -

I do not feel in the mood for writing this morning - as if my letter is not enetertaining; you must know that it is all the fault of the weather.

With much love Dalce -

[page turned] The fire is burning not very brightly and the room is not cold and I do feel lazy and I have another letter to write and I just did have some delicious coffee and I wish I could see you and I know I cant and it is going to snow and this pen is not good and we are going to have roast beef for dinner and rice pudding and I wish I could go with you to church and I want to see Miss Bettie and all the club and Oh dear! I can't and I hope you will write everything and and and -