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                 A week ago last Saturday (18th) we had a great snow storm so that it stopt the stage etc. blow'd & drifted a good deal And last Friday 21st began about the greatest snow storm that ever I knew, snow'd very fast all day with a strong east wind. Saturday it snow'd some & blow'd very hard all day from the west & continued to blow till Monday night. Before the last snow the fences up the road were all cover'd up and the road fill'd up as high as the fence now I presume the snow is more than 10 feet deep on many places about the house. I wish you could see how deep the snow is. It was said to be full 5 feet in the woods before these two last snows. I wish I could give you some general idea of matters & things here. The Sheep I guess will turn out same as they did that winter that Hiram took some of them. I suppose Uncle Mark was very careful - but perhaps fail'd in judgment I believe he thought best not to give grain to the Sheep in the first part of the winter. I was gone most of the time while he was here which was only 7 or 8 weeks. I think James has very good judgment for a boy about taking care of sheep etc. But of course was more intent upon his school, & having a good time than anything else I think he meant to be faithful. But it was very cold the fodder not very good, no convenience for giving grain to so many Sheep & he you know has to leave 'em from 8 oclock to dark in order to fix & get to school when he work'd to. Sinces James went home we've had a man one week the rest of the time we have depended on little Sumner (tho' Stephen has been here some) Albina has had a hard time taking care & she you know cannot  bear it as Mrs. Caton & some others would, she cant bear up under any little discouragements Stephen dont know anything about taking care at the barn, nor Sumner much Tis said there never was a time when it was so almost impossible to hire help

[upside down throughout letter] you will do well if you can find all I have written hope you are not very much hurried expected to have sent this several days ago, but as we did not have kept filling in more and more - your directions about the farming work will be very useful & necessary I guess we shall get along nicely now but I will have spells of saying Charles must come home. Anna expects to come here in June I think Nettie had better be at Elyria a while before going to N.H. the change will not be so great

I have just climb'd up & look'd into the Corn Bin, 1/2 or 2/3 of it remains there, pity it couldn't have been given to the Sheep. - or sold it has been worth 9/ a bushel is about 7/ now 9 or 10 lambs in the last 2 days have died A. has been to the barn every day while Sumner has been here she'll have an easier time now I hope.