We are all in usual health, myself in particular we are all making calculations to leave the first of March except fathers, Mary Jane will go to Billy Prices; she and Albert came home last Wednesday morning, so our family is increased to eight; last Tuesday we killed one hogs and have got through with our dirty work, rendering lard &c; and we are not sorry I can tell you; I can stand hard work pretty well; as you will think by my weight you will excuse me for saying that I believe more firmly than ever that it was not hard work alone that made my health so poor two or three years ago. You did not say in your letter to Stuart whether you got your shirts or not, it was unfortunate that I did not leave them with Barton, but I hope you may get them soon; for I expect you need them; it is too bad you don't get paid, I fear some of them need it sadly.  I went to the Soldiers dinner last Saturday.  There was a lottery connected with the donation; there was a nice buggy worth 250 dol and a set of silver, a Wheeler and Wilsons sewing machine, a Bible worth 30 dol; were the prizes; chances in the buggy sold for 2.50, silver 1.00 sewing machine 1.00, Bible .50.  Peter Meyers drew the buggy, and a silver cake basket, lucky man Peter was. The dinner was splendid, everything that palate could desire, coffee, oysters peaches and cream.  I took dinner and bought a few candies for the children; the dinner was .50 cts. 25 cts admittance to the hall; Shermans hall was the scene of festivities.  Merchants and every body gave liberally it is supposed they realized 1,600 dol.
