Transcription:
Portage City, Wis., July 31, 1872. My dear Uncle John: I think you are very kind for allowing us to have a book each.
Mine is a very nice story. It is about two girls living in a cave four years. I got it as a Christmas present, and I got a
beautiful pin cushion. My Sunday school teacher gave it to me. Her name was Miss Beard, and Joanna is our Sunday school teacher
now. I like her very much. Here is a flower called a lily. I do not know what kind of a lily it is - perhaps you can tell
what the name is: and here is a wild honeysuckle and here is one other little flower called larkspur. Annie will be 11 years
old the nineteenth of November, and I will be 10 the 29th of January, and Harry will be 2 years old the second of next month.
We have still our little black horse named Billie, and he will eat sugar or anything; he eats candy too, and Harry is so fond
of him that he will hardly keep away from him. He can drive him already. It is now vacation and has been for nearly two months,
and Annie has been out most all the time. Please excuse my blots. I will try to do better the next time. Write to me soon.
Your affectionate niece, Jessie Reid 605