Otego Dec 2d ‘66

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Dear Brother

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We were greatly rejoiced to hear from you, to hear that you were well and doing well for I think any body is doing well that can make a comfortable living and a little more for a rainy day. We are well as common. Ma has been to Scranton this fall on a visit. She stood the journey pretty well, seemed smarter when she came back than when she went away. She is very feeble but she works all the time. She is getting old and I’m afraid sometimes she won’t stand it a great while. She thinks a great deal of Barlow’s wife. She is very economical, very pleasant and very industrious but they are poor and have hard work to make both ends meet ma says. Barlow works very steady all the time, don’t give himself any time for recreation. They have four children. Elvira has been home this summer, made a short visit. She is doing pretty well. She is working in a tailor’s shop, earns five dollars a week, boards with Adeline. Maria Waterbury is at home. I’ve forgotten what she said about Anistine. I was up to Maryland visiting a few weeks ago. Our friends there were well. Uncle John is in Michigan living with his son. He is in his 87th year. The Albany & Susquehanna railroad is in progress. They have it in running order down to Sidney Plains. They run three trains a day each way. It looks big I tell you to see the cars running. The road runs near the river opposite here. It crosses the river twice between Otego and Oneonta. It crosses back onto this side again down this side of the Plains. There are a great many changes here moving and hanging about. I’m almost a stranger here in the land of my birth. I have to work so I don’t have much chance to go. I have it pretty hard I think. Minerva is sick all the time and their boy is very troublesome. We have to tag him all the time. Harvey & Warren Birdsall are both dead. That family are all gone but Lurissa and little Daniel. They have been having protracted meetings up on the hill by Jim Hodges. There has been a number converted. It has been a very pleasant fall till now. For a five weeks it has been dark and dreary. We only had a few apples this year and they are not very good. There is a scarcity of apples every where in this section. Orrin’s folks are well as usual. Louisa has a polypsus in her nose. The doctor thinks he can get it out when they get a little larger. Helen is not very healthy. I spose you think of Helen as a little girl. Mrs. Arnold and Amanda are both dead. Mr. Thrall’s folks are well. I was in Franklin last summer and saw George Reynolds. He inquired very particularly about you and took your address said he was going to write to you. He would be very much pleased to hear from you. Now good bye my brother and may God be with you and bless you

yours respectfully

Tempe

I send you my likeness perhaps you would like to see it. I have grown old and won’t look natural perhaps. Ma is going to write soon and then she will send hers.