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Isaac Jackson Co. Illinois July 6 1851

Dunbarton Sabbath Afternoon July 6 1851

I cannot give the name of this place, for I doubt if it has one. It is somewhere in Jackson Co. Ill; about 10 miles East of Murphysboro place itself is simply the residence of an old Pennsylvania Dutch farmer away in the woods not a little way from every body and every where.

   I wish you could see the house. It is a log house, or rather two log houses 

a dozen feet apart, one room each with a roof over the space between thus making a third room with the ends all open. This third middle room is, at this season at least, is the one principally used as a sitting and eating room and is really very comfortable.

    The family here I should think must be near a dozen, and our party 

make about as many more! Only three rooms you remember! This is said to be one of the best stopping places in this region. However there is a good airy barn on the premises, and beside the porch between the two rooms is a good sleeping place for me, and as they give me my choice, I get along tolerably well. My worst trouble with this country is the lack of good water. The people here make this the reason for drinking immoderately of Coffee and also of ardent spirits. In fact, I have been remonstrated with very seriously upon this score and assured that the only way was to dilute the water of the Country with a little Brandy or as the Dutch do with Whiskey My persistence in taking it pure appears very strange to them I suppose. Where I now board I have even seen Children soaking their bread in Whiskey As others would in milk.

Last Sabbath I did not go to Church. Today I have been sorry I did not try harder last Sabbath as I am here in a still more as I am here in a still more uncomfortable place and no possibility, as I can find, of getting to any kind