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Dec 1853

Dear Mother Yours dated a month since came duly to hand I would have been answered sooner but I daily expected to hear again respecting Charles' coming I really began to hope from the delay that Eliah & Marie had concluded to come too - Maria to stay with me while he should perhaps go South and look around a little. Charles came at last a week ago last Sat. eve/ i.e 7th Dec. He staid till Tuesday morning when the Doctor & I accompanied him to Cleveland on his way he might just as well have proceeded from here without going back to Cleveland but they gave him wrong directions there so he left his trunk & Indies rubber coat in the depot

• thought it best to go back there to be sure of

no mistake - the additional expense was but seventy cents. We were very glad to see him, & he seems to enjoy his stay here attended church with us I was much interested in Mr Hopkins: he and Mrs. H. called in to see him on Mond. eve. Mond. forenoon he & the doctor rode around the country. J. B was much delighted with the fine appearance productiveness &c the growth of timber & other evidence of good soil & favourable farming privileges. C. I think feels