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May 20th Dear brother Silly I have got a birthday; have you? Your sister Lucy.

Tother day E. and I. were at work in the garden by the Mulberry trees & we saw a curis long legged waterfowl alight in the water south of it. I sent E. after the old gun - it was loaded for a silver grey fox (you loved it) I could not make the screw work to draw the charge so I run along but the old gun would'nt go. I snapped 3 times at the bird but no go it had been loaded so long. after the bird flew I was vext & jammed some powder into the concern, put on a cap and held it up at my old hat what I had thrown off when I eyin to get a shot at the critter. Sure ennuf she went wi an vengunce kicked like all natur & I guess my old hat looks as if it had been fighting Indians. Today I shot a creetur of the same kind tho' not quite so large as the first one. I dont know what to call the beast but it is colored a little bit like a "Tifapufe" the body is about as large as a pigeon the legs 8 inches ? & the head & bill over 4 inces Goodbye Joseph M. Metcalf

Isaac I advise you to burn this half of this letter for Joseph & Lucy have written so much nonsense & nothing else hardly. when I wrote the other part of this letter I expect that Charles would have gone to Bangor yesterday or today but he has concluded not to go till next week he was going to carry down a load of potatos. He want you should ascertain what is the price of potatos, and if they are worth fifty cents, or more he wants you to look round and find a market for about 30 bushels if you can get someone to engage to take a load at 50 cents (or as much more as you can) he will take them right down the last of this week or next week for money if he can get it or for Corn or flour. As Charles is expecting to go I believe I shall not send your things by Mr. Thomas.

 If you get this soon enough I want you should "drop a line,, by Mr. Thomas Thursday if not then as soon as you can so that Charles can know what to do.
                                                                                               your affectionate Mother A.M.M.

[upside down]Brother, I meant to have written the following lines (or line) at the top of this page but Joe began there before I knew it. now hear or read. Fourteen Musquash kill um my Father yesterday. What! Your father dead? Yes my Father no dead. Musquash he dead. L.H.M. Don't you think I'm silly.