down in a short time to see how many vacancies there are.  I believe that I wrote you about Smith saying that he would give me fifty trees.  I intend to let him select them.  O I do hope that I will get the school over there, I don't suppose that I will know before the middle of April but that won't be long now, the winter has been so mild that it don't seem possible that Spring is here, it will very soon be time for farmers to begin their work, they feel quite discourgaged here just now, Stuart & Cy have neither one been able to do anything but feed & chop a little wood for a week, & their Charley (horse) has a stiff disease and is so bad that he can scarcely walk, & they fear that he will never get well.  I believe they hardly ever do when affected in that way.  Cy is unwell a good deal of the time & complains a good deal & they don't know what to do for the best this summer, he is old enough to make a pretty good hand, but they are afraid he can't, he is not well now.  I know he look a very bad color, but you know that he is not very anxious to work at any time, & consequently they don't feel that sympathy for him when he complains as they would if it was otherwise, but perhaps I ought not to have written this it will only hurrass your mind all to no purpose, but when I get to writing I feel like telling you every thing just as I used to do when you were at home.  It is almost dark & is quite cloudy & cold, wind from the north, I think that is doubtful about us going to Desmoines tomorrow, if I go I will finish tomorrow at town.  I am in Desmoines now & have no chance to write any more, I received yours of the 17th today, I got my picture taken today & will send it the first opportunity, it is not a very good one but you know that I don't take very well, all pretty well, but I have not had my dinner & have a very severe headache, Eunice is with me, we had to wait so long for our pictures that
