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how often I catch myself looking up to reach to that remembered nook where I kept that beautiful daguerrotype of Mayo, and the other of Ettie's self! How often they consoled me during that long last Summer. In those three years too God has blessed us in basket and store. It was really but little that we had when we were wed. --little but true hearts and skilful hands. And now I suppose we have what then we might perhaps have considered a competence. The prospects of this DuQuoin property are I think better & better. It is true, on account of the hard times, there has been little sold, and less realised of late. But I would not now dispose of my interest in it for $5000.00. This coal business must rapidly bring it forward. On one 40 acres of it we have sold about 2/3 of the lots, for some $3000.00 of which I have received some and shall about $1000.00 more this fall. The other third will probably bring us $1000.00 each additional. Then there is 360 acres of land yet untouched. For the least valuable parts of this we are now getting $20.00 per acre. Some of it does not lack offers indeed at $50.00 per acre. So it cannot well net me less than $5000.00 or more and may perhaps $10.000.00. Besides all this you know I have out here 480 acres of land in other places, for some of which I could now get $10. per acre, and which may probably in a few years all bring that price. Then you know I have most $4000.00 at Bangor. In fact Ettie we could have enough so we could settle tolerably most anywhere; The only difficulty is our property is invested where we cannot well get at it just now.