Helen Truesdale - March 6, 1864 - Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati March 6th 1864

Dear Cousins

I recieved your letter and read it with plasure I had begun to think you had [quite?] forgotten that you had a cousin here but am glad to learn from your own pen that such is not the case I love to get letters from my friends and your face looks so natural I think it is good but most to cloudy but I think a [grendeal?] of it and have put it in my Album Mother knew it when I showed it said you look as you use to when you were young she wants to see you all verry much she has been sick for two months but is now better so that she is out of her room and tell Hannah little Mary is not so heavy as when I was there she took a diareah after I came home and had it ever since she is cutting teeth she is nothing but a skeleton she is so poor she begins to rally a little now it has been with the greatest care that we have got her through the winter the rest of the children are well we have had a long cold winter had more snow than was ever known before we have a big river now it is over the banks and two [illegible] up in the city and rising we are afraid of a flood Charly has been watching it all day he is afraid it will come in to the [illegible] so you have got your room fixed I am glad for your sake but from the appearance of things you was afraid you would not have enough to fill up all of your new house hee hee ) do you remember the strong Coffee I wished I had a known what I do now that was a verry good excuse well go it while you are old ) I often think of our visit I enjoyed it so much I often think of our trip to Linn Grove I made such nice Jelly of the Crabapples that I brought home tell Dennis when he plants corn he must put in an extra hill for me for I am comeing again we want you all to visit us so much I want the girls photographs Hat took the pictures that we brought away she would not let me have them tell Maggie to watch the post office the first time I go up town I will send her some paperdolls to cut they will amust her so much and Hannah had better finnish that letter and send it on or she can come and bring it have you had that housewarming yet I expect you will have it soon we hear from my Brothers verry often Johnson will get home in April the other two in August if they are spared they [illegible] next Friday this letter will do all of you I have so little chance to write I know you will excuse me you must all write often I like to hear from you Marcia when that little affair of yours comes of let me know what it is if it is a boy call it Charly if not call it for me will you take good care of your Mother and not let her work hard Mother sends her love to you all she wants to visit you verry much this is my third letter to night you must excuse bad writing give my love to Mr Chapin and take a large share yourselves let us hear from you soon from your Cousin Helen

remember me to the boys )