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Tuesday [?] Aug 7th
Mrs Beal + I went to the station today and ascertained that there would be an excursion train for Des Moines – for the [road?] – three days – leaving Ames at 7:45 o'clock in the morning – I am glad of the arrangement – you may likely know of it.
If you [meet?] us in the morning please [remain?] for that. Mrs. Beal is with us + [bring?] her ticket.
If it [rains?] [?] we shall come on [Thursday?] [?]. Hope you are having a fine time – We are all well and miss you very much. [?] have two [?] letters from [?]. [Gordale + Hatred?] – With love – [Ian?]
17
[?] Octo the 9.
My Dear
Charles [?] you [?] [welcome?] letter, and am very thankfull for your kind favor, should of answered you letter of some time ago, but am kept very busy as Mother has got to [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] a [?], dont get [up?] where she is helped, and [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] [?], is not [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [easy?] [?], some days I [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] very stupid, I [have?] not been [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] well for [sic.] some time, Mother [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] pleased with you [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] could [sic.] only [the?] [?] and [sound?] like some old Lady much older than she is How much [?] [food?] we could have, I do think sometimes it could be so
18
Willis is on [?] [?] [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] Mr Owen at [?] and [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] for a month or more, he will [?] make ready for Florida before long, I do dread to have him go, and yet I am glad to have with Herbert,,. Calista and family are well, she said she would like you to write to him once in a while, [sic.] Herbert [?] well and in good spirits [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] doing business [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] Commission [?], [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [anxious?] to see Willis, his [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] El Paso, Texas, When [Willis?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] have [?] [?] [Lorain?] he [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] us a coal house, and we [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] tons of coal in it, [and?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] get [nine?] cords of cut [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] so I think we will keep [?] [?] got a grate for the cook stove and Willis [?] [?] and got one made for Mothers stove
19
[OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [think?] I will like to burn coal [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [as?] wood, but wood is very high and scarce, [William?] had good rains the last month, and it has started the grass to growing so every thing looks fresh and green Butter is 40 cents per pound, and every thing [?] according in price, I dont see [?] very often, is yet in [Lode?] is doing well with his [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] I heard was going [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] to visit Christian, We [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [and?] [?] [?] [Foust?] but [sic.] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] as to kill the tomatoes [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] flowers, I was very glad [and?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] [think?] you were [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] when away and to [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] home safe to your land [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] [?] sweet children as a [greate?] many say they are, Cyrus was so pleased with them, much love to you all Mother sends her love to all from your Mother, Margaret Bessey write often
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I thought my [sheets?] [yes?] full Now [Dear?] Charles dont work so hard. I am glad you say that you wont for you have your family to live for, I am so much Blessed with Edies Letter. He writes so well and [composes?] so well for a boy of [his?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] I am happy to say [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] is the first one to [write?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] me, Maria and [family?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] well, Amanda [thinks?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] to see Maria if possible [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] she can it will do [her?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] world of good. I do [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] may find you all [?] [OBSTRUCTED TEXT] and Happy love to all It is [lonesome?] here no one but Mother and myself on Sunday