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Mehitable Cottage Grove August 8th 1851

Dear Sister Lucy

We received a letter from you last week, you don't know how rejoiced we were to hear that you are getting better so fast - You must mind your mother and not be too smart - I wrote to you soon after we got here but it seems you had not received the letter when you wrote = am afraid it is lost - your last letter came in fifteen days. Poor Mr Hartwell is gone - I can hardly realise it - Lucy is truly deeply afflicted - her mother and husband both taken - what will she do with her little children?  How much he will be missed in Milo - especially by Charles and Mary - I want very much to hear particularly about his last days - I hope to have a letter from Mary this week, father had one from Mr Hamlen last week  He thinks Milo is rather gaining on the whole - I am very glad to hear it - I think I shall always take more interest in that place than in any other. It seems that Waterman has taken his better-half home - how many changes happen in a short time - I suppose we notice them more when we are absent.   I am at Theodore's now have been here about ten days - I love to stay here. I think he has the most pleasant situation of any of our people - his house is on the open prairie & like it better than the grove - it is so damp at Warren's seems as though it could not be healthy - my trunk is covered with mold in the sitting room - we have a fine breeze here all the time too which keeps off the musquitos in a measure - Theodore has ten acres of corn in one piece in sight of the house it does look handsome - but is rather backward, the season has been so wet and cold - grain looks finely, is about ready to harvest - The treaty is at last concluded with the Indians so when they are removed they will be far enough from us - they do not trouble us here any now - I have not seen one since I came here - but there are lots of half-breeds -

[on side]: I wonder if I have said all you want to know - I suppose there are a thousand questions you would like to ask that I have not anticipated I am sorry to hear that ?mmiy? is so poor - you must take a trip out here and fat up like enough I'll go home with you when you come