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Chicago Jan 22 1845
Dear Cousin Bell
I have always felt a reluctance on writing to you, not becaus I do not love you, but for a sort of fear that I could not write well enough to pleas you, who can express your thoughts so easily and gracefully. I do not exactly think that you would be so unkind as to make sport of my mistakes but I feel as though you would not caree to be troubled with my poor efforts in letter writing. But this is not the only reaso-n why I have not answered your letter sooner. Since I recieved it I have been quite sick. For nearly three weeks I was unable to write even to my one fokles. On Christmas I went out to The Grove and while there I was vaccinated for the small Pox, for there had been one case in our school and Uncle Jake
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considered me liable to take it. Oon my return to Town I was rather imprudent and caught cold in my arm where it was vaccinated and soon after I was attacked with Erysipelas[?] in it. My arm was terribly swolen from the wrist to the shoulder and even [illegible] on to my neck, but the diseas was prevented from going into my face by the use of Colodion which was applied over the whole arm and shoulder. I could not lie down for more than a week nor scarcely stir, but still I didnot feel very sick. The physicion and Uncle Asa thought at one time that I might not recouver. Good and Feel came down and took [illegible] of me But my arm is now nearly well and to morrow I shall [illegible] going to school again. I am attendig school at the Chicago [illegible] Semiary which is conducted by Mr. & Mrs. Sawyer; By the way this Mrs. Sawyer is a Sister of Exhihue[?] Burritt who hase a Niece[?] also, a teacher in the school also[strikethrough]
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There are nie teacher, all ladies but two Mr Sawyer and the French teacher. They all seem well quallified for their bussiness. about a hundred pupils attend the school. I am acquinted with the most of them and like them very well. I have three studdies Arithmetic Gramar and Physiology. Besides these I am takeing lesson on the Prairie I[strikethrough] and[strikethrough] I also studdy Geography at home. This is truly a grate city, though it is not half as old as our village. It has nearly seventy tousand inhabitants and there are a[strikethrough] grate many large and fine buildings I am not well enough acquinted to speak of the society but I should think it a vry gay place. There is not a night execpting sunday, but ther are Parties or Balls Concerts Leectures and ather ansing[?] entertaiments. Uncle Asa has a very fine affice. The walls are covered with beatiful pictures and the widows filled with rare
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plants and flowers. By the way Uncle Asa lost amany of his finest plats, about fifty dollars worth. While we were spending Christ[mas] at The Grove He also hase some beatiful canary birds, they are as tame as pet kittens. They will eat out of his had and sit on his figer and sig. He does not shut them up in a cage but lets them have ther liberty. Uncle Asa is very buisy. his rooms are always full of Patients. Dear Cousin, I mst now close my letter for I mst purpose for ten give my Love to all of your folk and tell Nelly to write to me answer this lettr as soon as you get it. Uncle Asa seds Love to all I am lookig for Father to night and if he does not come I shall be disappoited and if he comes I shall wat to go home with him. Good night Bell.
from Laura
