Transcription:
2 written to you once, and then waited and waited and now, thought I, just to stir him up a little, as Mother and the rest
of us are becoming uneasy on accou -nt of his long silence, I will again write, and beside, if you are any like myself when
away from home you will be glad to receive a letter from home any time, and by any member of the family; and by the by I doubt
not that you were duely informed that, there is a new, side sprout, as John designates them, an the old family there as you
will see from the date of my letter, I am again a resident of the old Hickory Hill, and as I must inform you the other illegible
olin branches have all fled, and I alone am left to comfort 3 and cheer; I alone? to fill the old house with sunshine
and smiles, or tears and sighs. Mary as you are probably aware has been home, made us a visit, and returned to Madison Joanna
has gone to Portage to the High School again; and I expect to remain where I am all winter at any rate, so I do not think
it is quite right to leave Father and Mother alone; I shall have my little illegible up home, and as I have taken lessons
long enough to start me expect it will Sulp me to illegible many pleasant hour. send them I will have my books +c. have been
here alone just one week. and after the sort of life which I led in Oco illegible I find this dreadful lonesome So for pity's
sake write to me