Transcription:
1 Portage Feb 11th 1880 Dear brother John We were all so overjoyed to hear of your arrival in San francisco again you
have seemed so far away since you have been in Alaska. My longing to see you lately has been great, and has been intensified
by the great expectation we have had all winter of seeing you, it seems sometimes as though I could not wait any longer, and
for lack of late letters I have to read a precious old one now and again A week ago Friday evening I was feeling quite nervous.
John he was sitting with his boots off reading the Chicago Inter Beean? 2 suddenly he said do you want to hear some news.
I said yes good news, he assured me it was good news. he then read a short notice of your Arrival. I told Jessie to carry
the paper to grandma in the morning, but I felt so glad I said to John this is too good news to keep till morning, he got
to mother s before she had retired Joanna had gone upstairs and I guess was partly ready for bed but coming to listen at the
head of the stairs, called out what is that about John it had a very restful effect on us all, as it was over a week before
the letters came Monday John and I went out to Sarah s carring you letter to her. poor dear Sarah and all of them have had
hard stroke