get sick it would go hard with you; I was reading the other day that Gen Grant had ordered all the ambulances at his command, down for the use of the army in the coming battle.  O! I feel like I can't wait to hear the news, I know you will write me often now for I am so anxious, and two or three days brings great changes these times, even the destiny of a nation may hang on a day.  Now that I think of it, I believe that I did not tell you why I went to stay two weeks at Bansmans, J. B. B. has invented a ventilator for railroad cars and has secured a patent for it and has gone on to Chicago to try it more thoroughly and try to have railroad companies patronize it, and I went to be company for Mrs B; there is but one other machine in the U. S. for ventilating cars and this certainly has a great many advantages over the other, and I think it is very likely that he will succeed, if he does, it will make him independently rich; he is a real genius and a perfect gentleman in his house, they are as different from the old man Bansmans family as you could imagine.  They are talking of enlarging our church, our church members when all there fill it full, but I am not in favor of running that little squaty thing back twenty or thirty feet, it would look squattier than ever; the city is improving rapidly and fine buildings and hansome churches will go up all around us and we will soon be ashamed of our church, so I think we had better wait perhaps a year and then build a new one, the difference between them wide not be very great and if we enlarge it, it will only be an old squatie church after all; I believe that I wrote you that I subscribed 10.00 for Bro Nash, and I intend to pay it myself  - when I get my money, they want to give him 500.00 and pay his rent - besides which is 125.00.  Now I tell you again to take good care of your health, I believe you said in your last that you were very careful about what you eat - I am so glad you do, I shall not feel so uneasy as if I know you to be reckless and careless, and above all don't forget your Bible and your God, heed not the scoofs and jeers of wicked, use your influence for good for you know however humble we think ourselves we exercise an influence either for good or evil, many prayers ascend for your safety, good bye my dear husband, I ever remain your Mary.
