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have a School of some 20 or more females. One of the Ladies who came on with Miss Smith is teaching a School up here at the Station. Mr Bird is coming back sometime to preach a Farewell Sermon at DuQuoin. It was to have been last Sabbath but he did not come. Thursday last, Thanksgiving day, Mr Wood preached there. I had an express invitation from Elders Sprague & Hinckley to come down and read a Sermon instead (You know Mr Wood is extremely unpopular with DuQuoin people) I did not be able to go there; and had no thanksgiving at all, except to occasionally think of my Ettie & my Mayo. Working & writing all day. So poor little Mayo has to bo to bed all along in the dark. Isn't he "too little"? I suppose though it is doubtless best for him. Bring him up in the way he should go. You ask if Mr Mason isn't on the Line often these day's. Yes, he is in the south part of the State considerable part of the time. You know it is easier getting about through than it was There is now only 20 Miles of Track lacking to make the connection through to LaSalle. There is about one hundred & twenty miles of Road in running operation here; and of course the Chief must attend to it. Mr Mason was down here this last week, yesterday and day before. Big Muddy Bridge is done--the wood work--the stone work is not entirely complete, & John Condit Smith is at work upon it. But Trains have run over it regularly since Nov. 1st. Little Muddy Bridge you know is of stone entirely--stone arches. It was finished so track was laid over it, and it has been