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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