ability and desire of the donors to contribute to such a cause, 25 dol, constitutes a life membership, $5.00 an anual membership.  I felt a desire to become a life-member, but did not feel quite able, so I signed $5.00.  Was that too much?  I thought not, It ought to put to blush those who have been at home all these three years making money, to hear how liberally soldiers are giving; One company in the 3rd Iowa Cav, numbering 37 men gave over Six hundred dollars.  There has been forty or fifty thousand dol. pledged already for the enterprise; some thirty or forty orphans have been received already.  It is thought that there can be 150 or 250,000 dol. raised, which they propose to invest in U. S. securities, and the intrest will pay the expenses of the institution.  I am proud that Iowa was the first state to start such an enterpris, now several other states are following Her example. Friday Evening, Oct 14th  My dear husband, you will think this a long interval in my letter; My only apology is that I have been waiting to hear from you.  It is four weeks since your last letter was written (the 15th of Sept,) why is it that I don't hear from you?  I know if you are living and well, you will write, but you were not well the last I received from you, and persons in that climate sicken and die so suddenly, that sometimes I fear something has happened, and then again I think you are coming home, and for the last two days I have been quite nervous, every strange step I hear, I think it is you, the girls and mother laugh at me, but I cant help it. Last Wednesday Morning I went to Desmoines and staid till Thursday evening, Libble went up with me
