round Mrs Cripps has been very sick this winter and several children have died of that throat disease. May we so live that
when death comes we will be ready Fight on fight on till death Shall bring thee to thy God He ll take thee at thy parting
breath To His divine abode I am comming to see you whenever I am able, but I expect to see you first Good bye From Your affectionate
Sister Margt 493 Dear John Feb. 1863 I feel as if I had fairly got out of the way of writing letters I hardly know how
to commence It is too bad is'nt it. I dont know how to excuse myself for being so long in writing, unless I just tell the
old story. I am slowly gaining strength after the awful event which took place two weeks ago I am cozilly sitting in my own
comfortable room and the little fat thing sleeping in the bed. You sent me a wonderful long yellow letter I was in bed when
it arrived. John came stalking in with what I thought a handful of shavings I wondered what he meant when the fire was burning
well enough as deleted when behold he walking right past the stove and and handing it to me said it was Johns letter