Transcription:
, March 18, 1859.Dear friend John:I have delayed ans wering your letter so long that I am almost ashamed to write, but I suppose
it is better to write now than never. But I hope you will excuse me for being so negligent, I can hardly tell why I have not
written, I have thought a great many times I would write, but some way or other I kept putting it off until now. You wrote
that you were going to speculate a little on my backwardness. I think myself that I have been pretty backward about ans wering
your letter, but you see my bump of letter writing is not very large, When I come tocompare my letters with yours I hardly
think they will pass for an answer. However you will have to accept this for one. We are all pretty well. I have felt rather
dull for a day or two since school has been out.