Brashear City, May. 8.63
Dear Father
            Now I want to ask
you a few questions for I want to
know what you are doing in the first
place.  how do you get along with your
springs work   have you sold the other
steer.   how does your hops look.  what
do you think hops will feach this
fall   I understand that money is
pretty plenty up there this spring.
I understood Uncle Steve to say that
Aunt amanda had hard work to
let money at seven percent and she
thought one spell that she would have
to let it go for 6 percent so I should
think by that that she had pretty
plenty of shiner.  what stile are you
going to have your house built in
mark it out or write and tell me

how is lealon going to build his
house or what stile.  I.DONT.WANT
YOU.TO.LET.HIM.BEAT.YOU.MUCH
for you can step as high as he can
if your eyes haint quite as large.
how does ben build the house by
the job or by the day and how much
do you give him  what does Uncle
John get a month. be you going to
get another horse.  I think that the
Purdys are rather tough.  what is Uncle
Tom driving at this summer.  I guess
that you will think that I am rather
inquisitive but I cant help it
for I want to know it all.  be you
doing anything for your coalpit.
what is the general opinion about
the war up there with the folks  it
is the opinion among the rebs that
there is no use to fight.  well enough
for this time   write as soon as you get this
this from you affectionate son Galutia

Oh Dear Father how I should
like to see you
Good by for this time
read this if you can

pa I believe you have got to be a regular old snuff taker and
tobacko chewer and I dont know but you would take a
little whisk if it come handy I wish I had a quart of good brandy.
we did not draw whisk only a fortnight  they said they could not get it

        Brashear City. May. 8th.63
And now my Dear Mother
                      I will try
and write you a few lines so there
will be no partiality used.  you
wanted me to write you a good long
letter and I guess this will be long
enough to suit you.  I am feeling first
rate to day for I had a good lot of beef
tea for my breakfast and have got
a good chunk of beef steak for my
supper and now mebby you would like
to know what I had for dinner  well I
had a boiled egg some fresh beef boiled
potatoes tea wheat bread crackers a fried
cake some peper and salt.  I beleive that
is all.  but Oh my god what I would not
give to sit down at the corner of the table
at home and take a meals victuals
will that time ever come  yes and may
god grant that the time is not far distan

have you got some good news to tell
me when I get home   I wish you would
tell me what it is now.  but I dont suppose
you can for it must be private  you can
tell me what it is about if you cant tell
me what it is.  ma have pa put up a good
house and if I ever get home and have my
health I will help him straighten things
and if things turn as our Colonel says I
shall be there before the snow falls again.  if
I live.  ma I wish you could get along without
worry about me so much for it only wears
on you for nuthing  I take good care of myself
and do the best that I can to keep clean and
free from lice but there is once in a while one
gets on me   Capt Tucker said the other day
that he was covered with lice but I dont
suppose he would like to have the folks
in hamilton know it.  who works for ___
this summer  does dudleys wife.  has ben
begun the house yet  I should think you
would kneed Emilys help this summer
if you have work folks.  yes I should think
that proctor had a stomach that would bear
anything.  (my stomach haint as strong
as it was   it wont bear hearty victuals
I expect it is because I have had such a
cough).  Oh, how I wish I could be up there
and have a good evening visit to night
I guess there would be some big stories told
well I guess you will think this is long enough
so I will close  read this if you can.  write
as soon as you read this  from your ever affectionate
son Galutia.  how does all of the girls
get along up there (I cant think of half what
I want to write now) good by for this time) Love

when this you see
remember me
good by
thats
all  write  kiss *