all plans for canals are laid & where the levees are cut & (every thing) up you say.  We are so busy all the time at Father's that I can hardly get time to read the war news, so that I expect that I am not much better posted than you are when you get papers at all; I have had the Register mailed to you direct from the office, so that if you don't get it you will know that it is not because it is not sent.  I am so thankful that you are in such good health, do be very careful to not expose yourself unnecessarily, & be particular to keep your body clean & be careful what you eat that is if you have any choice of food at all.  Austin & I remarked last night at the supper table how Lyle would enjoy this meal, we were eating two of your favorite dishes cornbread & buttermilk.  I hardly ever eat that I do not think of you my precious husband; poor Billy! I am so sorry that he is afflicted so, you spoke as if you thought him dangerously sick, poor Margery! how anxious she must feel; it is a pity that he did not get a discharge before he left Mo, it will be very difficult to get him home now that he is so far away: you speak of taking a walk with Mr Warnock so that I suppose he did get to come home; I am very sorry that you cannot get home, I felt for a while that I might see you any time, that is I was looking for you all the time after Mr Christie, he seemed to think when he went away that you would get to come home, but I had given up the idea some weeks ago, after you were ordered so far south; how beautiful everything must look where you are, roses in full bloom, when there is not even a green leaf to be seen up here, the elms are in bloom & the gooseberries are leafed out is our nearest approach to Spring.  I have not been down to our home this Spring, I should like to see how the strawberries & gooseberries & the  mountain rasberries & the grapevines are doing, but I feel your essence so keenly when I go there that I can't venture there &  you know too the lady(?) of the house is not most agreeable companion, Austin
