I find it impossible to write to you as I would wish. as an instance since I commenced writing the last half doz lines I have been collecting, 5 cent piece for the mess. to buy a box to keep our dishes in & to buy apples for the mess then a little by comes up with cakes.  "Want to buy some cakes five for five cents"  No, I write a line.  A little girl came in with corn bread, three or four of the boys speak out at once "wheres Lyle Garrett, when I came around they discuss the propriety of buying it. one says "I don't eat corn bread, & another, I go back & write another line or two I am now in the rear of our tent but men all around me talking all manner of things we took our first dinner down by Bill Depews on the same ground where we took a picnick
