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Home, Feb, the 17th 1865 Dear Cousin Ed, Your kind letter of Jan. 24st came to hand in due time, and I now seat myself to reply. We are all in the enjoyment of tolerably good health at the present time, and I am happy to hear that you still retain your health so well, Should you live until the termination of the present struggle (which I hope will be the case) you and your comrades will be deserving of more honors than possible for us to confer; but if you get the best girl in Illinois it will go far towards paying the debt owed you by your fellow countrymen, for I have concluded that a good woman is the best thing a man can have.