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                                                                                              Brownville Dec. 29th 1853

My very Dear Children

    Here I am on the verge of Civilization in this direction Notwithstanding I did recieve two good letters from you Isaac with a little from Nettie Dated 7 & 11th of Dec. I feel very anxious to hear from Charles--dont know whether Albina has had any letter or not 

I thought of ever so much last night when abed & not sleeping to say to you which I cant think of just now you say Etties health is improving I rejoice that it is from not seeing all the letters or that you did not write very plainly about it I have not been aware of the State of her health I had known that she did not get strong but thought it all- the hot weather & nursing. If she does not get strong and well perhaps it would be necessary to wean baby yet it would be a pity to do it till shorter nights - another thing had not Ettie better come east when Charles comes home whether you can come or not. O I do want to see her & baby to say nothing about yourself. Am not at all dispos'd to dispute your assertion about the baby for tis said that the first baby is always one of the very few perfect things under the Sun.

   Sam'l Conant! He is about Charles's age large & stout rather venturous & incautious for a Conant & tho' quiet and bashful is a little apt to boast of what he can do & tell large things considering whose son he is. But perhaps I do him wrong I have had just no acquaintance with him since he was a boy. I never saw his wife but suppose she

[left hand side]Almeda lives so far away that I could get very little news and letters while there but yester when Sam'l came from Bangor we got a good bundle of Letters what a feast I did have I have got my sheet full but I want to add a word to Charles Jan. 6 I have just been [top of page]down to the barn saw Uncle Marks horse there very well ? to live and all the rest of the creatures looking very hungry I dont know how they feel I am afraid they will be very short for fodder having to keep the oxen till now & perhaps a week or two longer - however I suppose I know very little about the matter [upside down]v John will get your colt trained he just call'd here on his way to Charl's and Norman with him tis 9 oclock now