Friday morning:  Good morning dearest Husband; I am happy this morning that I have received another of those good loving letters; I got yours of June 5th written youngs point last night, they did not get through with their nominations at the state convention til sometime yesterday and Mr Robinson did not get home 'til pretty near ten oclock.  I was in bed asleep, they did not intend to wake me, thinking it would injure my eyes to read by lamp light but I waked just as they came up and you know I was not long dressing, it had been two weeks since I had heard from you and was getting quite anxious as I always do if I don't get a letter just when I expect it.  I am so thankful that you health as well as you life is so remarkably preserved; I must give you credit for good sense and more control over your appetite than I used to give you credit for.  I am glad that you can abstain from food that might please the palate, but be injurious to your health.  Now that I feel somewhat relieved to hear from you, we have a report that the 23d has been in a battle at Millikens bend and suffered severely; Mr Robinson saw the list of killed and wounded and your name was not among them but I never fell at ease, 'til I know from your own pen.  I know you will write the very first opportinty.  O! that this war might end tomorrow if 'twas possible, and stay the tide of death and sorrow; every letter I receive and your health and life is still preserved, I feel my unworthiness more that the giver of all good is remembering me in this terrible conflict, when I am so forgetful of Him.  O! how much I wish to be with you if only one hour, my waking thought and my dreams are all about you - you seem to think if you should come home and go back in the heat of summer it might indanger your health; I don't wish you to expose yourself so that you would be liable to be sick, but I assure I want to see you very much, so much that language does not express it.  I wont urge you too strongly, if you think it is not running too great a risk, come, if you have money to come home, I guess I could draw some of my money to send you back, I don't imagine I will feel very anxious about that I do hope with you that you will not have to stay your three years in the army, but sometimes when I get the "blooze" I fear you will; do just as you think best and I will abide by your decision, whatever that may be.  When you wrote you had just got my letter stating that my eyes were sore; they are improving all the time, so that I can attend to my duties without any trouble; I have such a nice little school, the children are so easily governed, and I think they like me; if I idont get into the public school next winter I mean to try to get this, for I intend to teach all the time while you are away.  I enjoy myself better than at Fathers, I have better health and you know Mother is grieving, or talking about her troubles so, all the time that it is not pleasant, and then as you say it will help us a long.  My school is out for this week, and I am waiting to go up with Mr. Justice and his little daughter to Desmoines, there is to be a school exhibition there this evening, and the proceeds are to be given to the soldiers families.  good bye for today   Mary
