.MTM5.MzI4NDI

 Saratoga, Sept. 11 1853

My Very Dear Sisters -

 Yours of the 20., unclear was received in due time & perused & referenced with great interest & pleasure 
 Possibly you may have thought that you were forgotten by me or that I had treated your communication with coldness & indifference - but be assured it was not from any want of interest in you, that caused this delay.
 Often have I spoke of you all & shall of course thought of you & wished that I could once more imprint upon you cheeks warm tokens of love & affection, but, thus it is.  We are now separated by quite a distance so that instead of expressing our thoughts