Transcription:
2-May 15th, 1870 the waters in the most divine harmonies. This is a costly trip as most people make it but if you can come
I will send you directions etc., that will make your expenses quite bearable. I believe I told you that Dr. Carr was now
Prof. in the University of this State. I have not seen the Dr. or Mrs. Carr yet but expect them here this summer. I wish you
could come when they are here. Mrs. Carr was frequently at Pr du Chien and I think you know her. You ask me to tell (about)
my work. Well it so happened by a great coincidence that the (d)ay*your letter arrived I began(to saw?)*lumber for repairs
on the (fac)tory house and tomorrow I am going to begin tearing down muslin partitions, that you spoke of. I made a sawmill
for Mr. H. this winter, and have been operating it lately. This together with various jobs of carpenter work and the feeding
of a herd of hateful gobblers is my terrestrial employment and visible means of support. I do not think you will recognize
me, like John the Baptist, I dwell in the wilderness and have a leathern girdle about my loins and I wear sackcloth when I
camp out I have ashes on my head and on my whole body. There are two families in (--------)* besides some camps of dirty batchelors,
There is about fifty visitors here at present. The valley is very beautiful. Summer verdure is in full gushing prime. The
falls are very high from the melting of the upper snow. Farewell, hoping to see you soon and that you will derive all the
health benefits from your long journey that you hope for, Ever yours, John M. *() these particular lines fell on the
side of paper which was torn. Words and parts of words in () seemed logical to copyist. Where there are (--) the whole word
was torn from the page.