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Lewiston, Me. Jan. 8 1871. Dear Aunt Sarah,

   It seemed so nice to get a letter from you when you hadn't written to me for so long.  We live so far away from each other, and visit each other so seldom, it seems as though we ought to write oftener, don't it?

We have got our melodeon and it is real nice but oh, not quarter as nice as a piano! I liked it ever so much though but am in hope that we shall have another piano sometime. We had had one or two good sings with our melodeon. Johnnie sings base, Lizzie sings part of the time alto and part of the time treble and I sing treble. O, Johnnie has got a splendid voice for base, I wish you could hear

in margins: or Aunt Mary, for ever and ever so long. Have you? I wish I could see my new Aunt Mary. I am sure I should like her, if she like me. Have you go a cat now? We have got a kitten since we came to Lewiston. She is black and white. Just as full of fun as she can be. Cant you think of some name for her? Just as soon as mealtime comes, she begins crying, loud as she can, and mews till some one gives her something to eat. Thursday. Jan. 5. Do you ever expect to get this letter Aunt Sarah? I guess you wouldn't have much hope of it, if you saw me writing it, but I really mean to finish it nwo. So with a great deal of love to all I close, Yours affectionately, Hattie