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Isaac. DuQuoin, July 1. 1855 Brownville, July 18. 1855 (Retrospect thoughts about DuQuoin) DuQuoin Station I.C. R.R. Perry Co. Illinois Sabbath, July 1st 1855

My Dear Wife How the time passes! Here I am writing July! This reminds me of some other July, which you too remember, and of our anniversary, so soon to arrive. I did very much want to be with you on that day, and even when I left Bangor had some little hope of it. Three years of wedded life! How happy you have made them for me! I fear I have not done as well as I ought in making them every way pleasant to you. You know I do want to, Ettie; but somehow the effort I make to effect it seems very little. How good our God has been to us in the three years. True we have been separated a good deal; but yet how happy we have been together. You have been tried by suffering & wearisome sickness; and Oh! there was one day, when Dr Wall spoke discouragingly, and I really feared; Oh I thought my heart would break that day; but you never knew it. But the Lord has delivered us, and surrounded us with his great mercy. He has given us that which is now the light of our eyes, and the pride of our hearts, our darling boy. Here as I sit at this desk of Mitchells; (my old desk, at which I have sat so many days & nights) how