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 Clinton W. C. Sept. 9, 1851

embossed seal Dear Sister Mary,

 Thanks, many thanks to you for your long=expected, long=looked=for, and therefore much=prized letter which has at length arrived. At length, I say; would you be supprised if I tell you that I almost dispaired of getting it at all I was beginning to think that you had, in some way, imbibed a sad dislike for writing, which you could not overcome even to write to me. But the reception of your well filled letter has dispeled all such ideas and I again begin to cherish the hope of hearing from you quite often, shall I be disappointed? -- You say that Father and Mother are coming to Utica today, but you do not mention one word about them coming to see me. I hardly know whether to expect them or not. I tseems to me when any of you come to Utica you are almost here, but I suppose it is not so; eight miles makes a good deal of difference when any one is in a hurry, and threfore I am very much afraid that they will not be able to come. But