Transcription:
1 Fall, 1861 Dear David and Sarah I hope you and the little ones are well and happy David and John are so and perhaps even
contented too We walked from Portage to Watsons I was tired but not so tired as I feared I'd be. Watsons were well, we arrived
about dark They were sur- prised and happy to see us and gave us a sound welcome after they sent? h illegible illegible was;
for though some of them kind o knew Dave none seemed able to claim acquaintance with me Next day we walked to Madison. we
could see the university and fourth lake quite distinctly when we were only about half way to it Dave stood the walk well
but not so very much better than mysel for though tired I was not faint sweet the pleasure after illegible O how pleasantly
and contented by comfort? lay on the prairie when they got the chance. There was no more uneasy nervousness in them than in
a fence post I need not tell you how happy I was to see our lake and school for I was thouroughly rested in the harvestfield
I wenthop skip and jump up and down the stairs two or three steps at once looking for last terms acquaintances my knee and
hip joints seemed to have been oiled in a moment and I quite forgot my tiredness but that fussy thrill is of course by and
we now quietly illegible at our lessons Goodbye Sarah and David may you always be blessed (should this be at top?)