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often sing. The Capt. sometimes joins. Ezra is scratching
away as I am a letter to his father. And now my dear-est friend
I bid you good bye again for a few weeks, when
you will hear from me again (Deo volente). I charge you not
to worry about me. Be very happy with your friends, your
children & in sweet daily communion with your Saviour
and also in leaving me in the hands of that great & good
Being who has so graciously promised — & who [illegible] has
taken care of both of us. — The few months that intervene
now separating us will soon glide away — & we shall meet
again to tell each other many things in testimony of the divine
goodness. — Give my love to your father & mother sisters &
brothers & send the same when you write to mine — all mine
& all yours. — I hope you will write to Winsted as often as
you get a letter from me.

Your absent though very
affectionate husband
J. W. Alvord

P. S. I write in a hurry, with the ship tossing, & you
will excuse all defects — You will probably wonder how
I have got to be such a sailor as to write as well as I
do under these circumstances — Yrs J. W. A