Transcription:
Portage City Dec 31st 1862. Dear John I believe I wrote last but as I see no sign of your answering I must write again.
The folks are all well, Maggie is about the same as she was last summer Hope you are well my son, I am still trotting around
the counter tearing rags illegible fine business for winter. It will do a fellow more good in the way of sharpening, and trading,
than teaching I think. I wonder who on earth you don't write a letter to let us know how you are getting along, and how the
illegible prospers, and who is there. Mother wants to know if you are coming home about New Year. You should come if it were
for nothing else but to get your clothes here where they are cheap I will be very much obliged to you if you will do some
business for me about the first of March that is to pay the interest on my land I will send the money, and the de illegible
-tion of the land, and you can do it as well as I can. Will you do it I had a most glorious visit last Saturday. Perhaps you
don't know that illegible is teaching in the Town of Caledonia? this winter about ten miles from here Well you see I started
on Saturday afternoon and got here early in the evening and staid all night and till three on