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Phillipston Jan, 19=1857 My ever dear Son

                                  I now seat myself to answer you letter of your, 4= which was received with much pleasure hearing your health was so good as it is, health is a great blessing to all who have it, my health has been comfortably good this winter. Lydia was taken with the throat distemper and rash the second saturday after she began her school was so that she could not get home was quite sick for 2 weeks, is in school now but does not step on the snow is very lame; most part of the time her limbs are swolen very much and are very painful. I have heard from her yesterday she was not able to teach last Wednesday but has taught since then, think she will be quite low spirited if she is not better. Your Uncle N Bragg died last sunday he was taken friday with a fit of the palsy died. S. Stilman _ Smith died last Sunday bleeding at the lungs he worked friday, has been out of health for some months. Royalston meeting house was burnt last Tuesday might with Ms. Bullock's house and some other buildings think they was set on fire. They are about sending for a charter for a railroad from Salem depot to Winchester town Vt? to intersect at NY line with Cheshire, several men have been