fully guilty in the crime of slavery, and that he could see the elements at work now in this nation if they throug the will of wicked men should culminate, to bring about a fearful religious persecution; I must stop now for awhile.  
Friday Morning;  O how I wish I could greet you with good morning, but you are far far away; it is two weeks today since your last letter was written and there is no telling where you are now, we have a report that the enemy is evacuating Vicksburg.  I don't wish them to have a battle but I don't want the enemy to get away, so I hope that it is not true; I was up to Austins Wednesday night he gave me a very encouraging account of our farm affairs, he thinks Wickham a fine fellow and disposed to do what is right; but Austin is writing to you now and I will not anticipate; Father is getting along nicely with their work, Cy works like a man, and is so much more agreeable, I like to be in his society, I think that he is almost as tall as you are; he wrote you last week, I am sorry that he don't write oftener, but you must excuse him for I don't think it is because he don't want to but it is such a task for him to write; I had like to have forgotten to tell you that I was up to John Hayes visiting, I did enjoy it so much, they live up towards the graveyard in a large square house, with an acre and a half of ground attached to it, it would do your heart good to see his shrubery and fruit trees and vines, his oldest apple trees have been out two years, and are going to bloom, Austin says there is considerable bloom on our peach trees, wouldn't you feel encouraged if we should have peaches this year, my paper is full and I must close for this time, I am expecting a letter from you this morning, if I have a chance I will send you some paper and envelops, good by dear husband, may God take care of you is the prayer of your Mary
