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 Oswatomie, Feb. 23, '56.

Dear Father

 I write a few lines today though it is uncertain when this will go out. We have had a thaw and the streams are up. There are no bridges as yet, and, when a horse cannot ford a stream at the crossings, travelling stops. These crossings are generally dry but yesterday the water was over a horse's head. We must expect interrupted mails occasionally, especially in the spring. Last night was freezing cold, wind today north, and the water will soon fall. Received yours of Jan. 30th Tuesday the 19th inst., with the $26 [[page torn] draft enclosed. Am very sorry to need such assistance, for I know how many calls you have on your resources. Have now about $13.75 besides that most of which I owe to rent &c. I wish you could borrow for yourself what you have sent us, and hold me responsible for the payment. Am very sorry to hear of Robert's illness. Hope to hear by your next that he is better. Would be very glad to see him out here, if travelling would be beneficial to him. But it is a long way, and I cannot have much hopes of seeing him or any of you very soon. Sarah's health continues miserably poor. I hope she will be better when the weather gets warmer. She is better of her chills, but she does not get up from them, and continues very feeble and nervous. I am well; so is Frank. He calls his father sometimes John bach, and Mr. Evett (N.B. accent first syllable),and Mr Papa. His mother sometimes Mrs. Evett, and Mr. Ma, and very often Sarah.  Mr. O.C.? Brown, whose name you probably remember as our enemy of last spring, is now and has been during the winter out East, raising money ostensibly to build up freedom and Christianity in Kansas, and especially in this place. He will do what he can to build up a village here, as he expects, as one of three, to get the land it stands on, )3 quarter sections,) but he is generally considered here an unprincipled man, destitute of truth. He had to