that my Mary could not be with me to enjoy the fall shades of evening, & the bright moonlight scenery that began to be visible around me before I reached my present Mountain home.  Then I came in hearing distance of the noisy 3 Iowa Regiment of soldiery I was happy at the thought that my loved ones were at home.  Where they can at least enjoy the sweets of civilized society, & here let me say that it requires a person to be deprived of these social & religious privaleges to rightly enjoy them.  Never let me so far forget my duty to my family as to wish them with me while in the army.  No my dear girl, enjoy the sweets of virtuous civil & social & religious society while you can.  But I need not ditate on these topics, you are surrounded by good & I trust true friends.  But you will not take offence when I again caution you to be cautious. Do not trust any one because he or she may profess to be verry good, my faith has been very much shocked by the base conduct of "professors"  Incidents I will not stop now to detail, I do not fear the results when you act on your own discretion
