Transcription:
Jan. 4, 1862 Fountain Lake January 4th My much loved Brother how I have illegible for a few lines from you but I suppose
you are so busy with your school and other things you find little time I very often think about you and wonder if you are
happy comfortable or if you take much pleasure in you present occupation how does your nerves stand it, and are you not afraid
it make you cross like David keeping such a long face all the time and trying to keep so many little ones still which is almost
impossible for the poor little things to do, how does your Clock work with its new appendage We were over at John Reid's on
New Year's day Father Mother and Joanna were up from Portage, Mother likes her old home better than the new one yet Maggie
has been quite nervous again and is not very stout John had a sore throat something like what he used to have but wee Anna