Transcription:
Fountain Lake Jan 4th 1863 My Dear Brother, here I am again with another of my scrawl's I hope you are well we are all pretty
well except a little cold we were over at Maggie's on New Year's day. Father Dan Mary Anna were there also Andrew Hendry Duncan
Reid and another girl by the name of Maitland, we had quite a pleasant time I wished you had been there too. I believe Mother
would have been up too but she has a bad sore on her leg she does not know whither it is what is called Rose or Erysipelas,
it has been very bad indead but is somewhat better now, Anna will be up this week they have had a vacation of three weeks,
Dan Mary Anna has been to a Singing School, they have had an excellent teacher and have made considerable Progress, I wish
you could see my Prickly Pear instead of withering when Winter comes like most other things I can count eighteen Pretty little
ones that have budded out within a few weeks tree is a good many of them between two and three inches long, and there is more
just begining to peep out. remember it is standing up on the shelf by the chimney, we have two or three more little flowers
besides. Jane Gutchele? is staying with us this Winter. She studies some through the day and say's them to David in the evening