from your wife, for I am able to bear it, I can endure any thing, better than suspense, I thank you for writing as freely as you do; I feel quite anxious about your health, you were not well when you wrote last. O how I wish I could cook a good meal now & then.  It is too bad that you don't get your rations, I think there is a way to get redress, & if were a soldiers, I would clamor loudly for it, the government rations are liberal, and the clothing warm and abundant, if the officials would do their duty, our soldiers need not suffer; Mrs. Reicheneker Mrs. White & I are talking of getting up a box to send to 23rd.  Last Friday evening the ladies of the Baptist church gave a festival for the benefit of the Sabbath School, the whole R family went myself included, the net profits were 81 dol. they intend to buy a library with it, there is a talk of making a festival or concert for the benefit of the soldiers in the hospitals, I feel like patronizing anything of that kind; I look over the list of the sick in our hospitals every week.  O! I do hope that I will never see your name on the list.
 After all that has been said, we have given up our plan of going into business, Mrs Rs. Brother advised her not to go into business, this spring, as our affair
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