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St. Joseph May 8th 1849 Dear Wife I learned from the Mr. Hains last night that you was well the 25th April, he received a letter from his Wife Hariet?, and Craudall and all my acegauintance are receiving Letters from their friends and Families . but the ones Houghes brought is all I have received since I left Home, as St Joseph is the last-place that I can receive letters for many many months I did think some of my Friends, if not my Family, would write to me but I have been to the office every other day and as after our uncertain and I can not but conclude, where there is so much indifference about writing, there must be as much about leaving from me, Where I shall be, or on what Route, when you receive this, God only Knows. The Pioneers are holding a meeting now at 2 o clock on a uncertain near the River, some for going the Santa Fe Route (and I ever convinceed, in view of the Great numbers that hence gone, the Route we are on0, that the Sante Fe is the route we ought to take, but Houghes sayes he will not go that route. He wants to back our but wants us to pay him the money down, we have offered him our Notes with uncertain, but he will not take them, he pours down cholera draps, camphor, laudanum, Bravedy? or something all the time, which would make any of us sick, and my opinions is he will no live to get through if he attemps it but he will not attempt it. he only wants one excuse and if we go the Santa Fe route, it will be our excuse. We was so Frigtened he Staide in St Louis only only enough to buy our uncertain coffee and Rice, he left the Bacon with one man, gave money to another to buy Sea Bread, to another to by soap and candles, and what little Freight he brought with his is all we have received, we shall wait - one day more and if they dont Come, we shall buy here, and go on, and loose them, from wheel Gourvet? and Croudall? of Peria? told me he has not Me Newe? to stand the Journey and perils, cried all one day on the Boat for Fear he should die, Shall not close lit?, we are about the 20th Team from the Ferry, yesterday morning the 70th we crowd up as fast can 800? Teams waiting to get-over