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here almost entirely. So the people have to buy flour and give us wheat bread. Then for lack of corn perhaps the hogs were sold, and the Smoked hog too is scarce! So we have some bacon, and some fresh pork, beef, sheep chickens, squirrels, deer &c. which would not be had other years. This too is the very favorable season of green vegetables. But the great wonder among the nations is the regular Yankee a man who drinks neither coffee nor Sour milk. These people here with their hundreds of cattle have no dairy milk one or two cows once a day, so as to have plenty of sour milk to drink. Make no cheese, and butter only as they want to use it, a saucer full, enough for a meal at once only, I judge. The people here are a curious set, that is certain. At the North they are in great part from the East; here hardly at all. Most of them from the South perhaps, and who came here as poor as poverty itself. I suppose it must be the very Easiest country in the world to get a living in. every one is independent, that is just as much corn & hog as he will take the trouble to have, and a horse to ride, too boot. But they are so indolent -- perfectly lazy. However the country here is rapidly improving. a better class of settlers coming in from N. E. N. Y. Ohio, the Dutch from Penn &c. &c. To day I have been over to Du Quoin to church. This is partly settled by Eastern people, and they have a Presbyterian Church there. I have heard preaching but two Sabbaths since I have been here, in Jackson Perry & Washington Co. My Post Office address you know is Mount Hawkins. Perry Co. Illinois I want to see Eliab very much, but I suppose he would hardly find his way here, even if he came clear? out West. It is one of the most out of the way places in the world. Near a Week from St. Louis. I do wish you would write to me. do -- Sincerely I. S. Metcalf