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Dear Sister Jane, I now proceed to redeem, the pledge to which John has already spoken - that of finishing this letter. It is truly a pleasing task thus to approach dear absent friends when we have nothing sad or painful to relate. Oh, my sister! would that you could come for a moment to my bedside and listen to the tale of my joyous hopes fresh from my lips. I am getting well! My health is improving rather slowly but I trust as surely. I think Dr. Fitch understands my case much better than Dr. Guiteau did, at least his medicines do me much more good. The supporters and braces which he sent me are just the things they help me very much indeed I do not think I could be cured without them. I take seven different kinds of medicine each day most of which I take three times a day besides pills and linament to rub on my back and as I am not able to help myself you will percieve that I am a good deal of trouble for mother. but I hope soon to be able to go around and wait on myself. (then I will write to you often, very often!) My back seems to be slower "in getting well" than anything else. Those "cruel blisters" are now quite well, leaving only a slight scar to remind us of there once-painful existance. I am now able to sit supported up in bed four or five hours in the day and sometimes 15 minutes or half an hour in the chair. I cannot walk any yet. I am yet in the study. Do you remember, dearest Jane, who carried into this room! and do you know, sweet sister, that I have not passed through the door since you bore me through, is not this a tender thought. Oh sister Jane, would that you could be with me now! Would that I could take the bitter medicine from your hand, how much of its bitterness would be gone and how soothing to my aching head would be a pillow smoothed by my own absent sister! but I do not repine it is all for the best. Sweet as it would be to have you with me I will not be so selfish as to wish it under present circumstance. Margery Jones the girl that is with mother has been quite sick for about a week but is now much better, but not able to do anything Gwen is home

more than a few days. She came to stay with me when mother went to W. Sha. lakes?  good came of me. when mother is gone. Dear sister I hope you will be able to read this. I am tired and cannot write as plain as I wish. My head is I think some better. Wish much love I remain your aff' sister Sarah.

in top margin: be sure (bagage, that is the way it came back to us in your first letter) Dear sister you see I have write two pages, and Sarah will not allow me to write any more. She was to have all but one page when I commenced. But first come first served.

 I leave all the rules on the the page to her, good night John