Portage July 10. 74. Mary Dear I feel quite good natured this afternoon and think I had better siege the opportunity of
writing to you that I may not again treat you to a shower of cold water. Well Mary I like your picture much, and thank you
most cordially for it. it is truly beautiful and the more I look at it the more it looks like you and the more I love you
for I can see all your soul in it.. By the way I showed it to a young gentleman the other day who seemed spell bound over
it and pronounced it a most splendid looking picture He is no mean illegible either and before I drop the subject I will tell
you who it was. I was most heartily surprised and de- lighted the other morning illegible illegible called into the sitting
room by mother to be greeted by one of the journal school students I was so glad to see any one from there that he may be
thankful that he escaped being embraced and kissed. We had a most agreeable visit. He is canvessing for a book Annie was in
on the 4th and so also was the Galloway family. We were 20 in margin: Mother sends love. Your letter was underlined: very
good and made the tears run out of my eyes.