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Chicago, February 19th 1872 My dear daughter Having a few moments to spare of my Collectors Office, I cannot them to any better purpose than to write you a few lines. For, with all the exhausting work I have to do, it is impossible fo me to write my private letters at any other? regular time. If Whenever I do have time I write you very long letters and at other times only a few lines. If, at some future time, you should have to edit a newspapering collect some five or six millions of dollars for the government at the same time, I would never think of blaming you for any irregularity in your private correspondence.