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Mehitable Cottage Grove August 8th 1851

Dear Sister Lucy

We received a letter from you last week, you don't know how rejoiced we were to hear that you are getting better so fast - You must mind your mother and not be too smart - I wrote to you soon after we got here but it seems you had not received the letter when you wrote = am afraid it is lost - your last letter came in fifteen days. Poor Mr Hartwell is gone - I can hardly realise it - Lucy is truly deeply afflicted - her mother and husband both taken - what will she do with her little children?  How much he will be missed in Milo - especially by Charles and Mary - I want very much to hear particularly about his last days - I hope to have a letter from Mary this week, father had one from Mr Hamlen last week  He thinks Milo is rather gaining on the whole - I am very glad to hear it - I think I shall always take more interest in that place than in any other. It seems that Waterman has taken his better-half home - how many changes happen in a short time - I suppose we notice them more when we are absent.   I am at Theodore's now have been here about ten days - I love to stay here. I think he has the most pleasant situation of any of our people - his house is on the open prairie & like it better than the grove - it is so damp at Warren's seems as though it could not be healthy - my trunk is covered with mold in the sitting room - we have a fine breeze here all the time too which keeps off the musquitos in a measure - Theodore has ten acres of corn in one piece in sight of the house it does look handsome - but is rather backward, the season has been so wet and cold - grain looks finely, is about ready to harvest - The treaty is at last concluded with the Indians so when they are removed they will be far enough from us - they do not trouble us here any now - I have not seen one since I came here - but there are lots of half-breeds -

[on side]: I wonder if I have said all you want to know - I suppose there are a thousand questions you would like to ask that I have not anticipated I am sorry to hear that Sammy is so poor - you must take a trip out here and fat up like enough I'll go home with you when you come I almost want to go with Mrs Hale and Emily, I should think Isaac would want to come up here and see the country, now he is so near Well its most time to get dinner, give my love to all the folks - Albina and the little ones write often all the comfort I take is in looking forward to mail day Yours affectionately Mehitabel