January the 23
Dear Augustus,
I received your good longe
letter and you must know that I was
very glad to hear from you and also to hear
that you was well but you are so far
away if you should be sick we cannot see
you nor hear from you in so longe a time
I little thought the last time that I see you
at the gate it would be the last time that
I should see you or talk with you untill
your arrival in Mexico and then it must
be done by letter I cannot say as your
uncle Lewis did that I would just as lives
write to a person as see them and talk with
them I would much rather see them, as
my writing does not amount to much
since I have to use glasses I do not get alonge
as well as I did before but I do not complain
for I had ought to be thankful that I can see
with them and can write to you but it does seam
as if you was so far away, and in a strange
country too but I hope you may return to
us again we are in hopes that peace may
be proclaimed that appears to be the talk at
Present I very often think of what Stephens
said when he was in Sentrial America

that when he looked at the sun and the
moon and thought it was the same sun
and the same moon that his friends could
see whain they wer I very often view the
skies in the direction of Mexico and think
in that direction my only and dear
Augustus is but as Stephens said we have the
same sun and moon to look at that you have
we are living here just as we wer when you
left except we have Mrs. Perry and her daughter
boarding with us her husband is now in Neworleans
exhibiting a picture Peals count of death she
says he is doing a very good business which
I hope may be so she leaves in April to go to meet
him Cathrin Miller came home after you left and
stayed six weeks she was very sorry that
she did not see you she and Mr Huson are
to be married in the fall her folks are very
much pleased with the prospect of her doing
so well Mr Huson is now living in Rochester
Frances and her beau continue to be engaged
Auburn has been quite lively this winter that
is they have had several Partys Mr Blach Blachford is going to have one tomorrow
Night we shall not go we have had some
very cold weather here this winter but
not much sleighing I very often see William Muir he always maks some enquires about
you when we have heard from you

when we have heard from you says that you
told him that you would write to him but I think
you cannot have much leasure or at least while
you are marching through the country but how
often do I think of what your dear Grand Mother
used to say how much she would like
to know what for as man or what would be
your occupation in life little did I then think
that the time would come at the age of twenty
one when you would be marching through
Mexico with a train of three thousand men and
three Hundred Baggage wagons but how well
it is ordered that we should not know
what is to take place how unhappy it would
make us but still I look forward to the time
when you will return to us again o that it may
be so that you then will remain with us what
a pleasure it would be to have you and Fredrick
Both Home again I should hardly know how
to praise it Mrs Bronson has just been
here she says I must give her love to you
and say that she is going to have a party next
week she would like very much to have you
there I expect it will be quite a splendid affair
as they are to have music and dancing
Issac Sherwood was married to a Miss Marsh she was a poor girl that lived
on water street and had to work for a
living she was eight years older than he was

John Sherwood has been expelled
from College and Charles Smith also quite
promisin young men Charles Porter has
gone to Rochester to live he and Huson are in
partnership their Prospects are very good
I have had a letter from Michigan this fall
from Mrs Blackmen she wished me to write
and let her know when I head from you
all about your journey which I intende to
do Frances Lewis has married since
we wer there and James also I shall never
think of Michigan with out feeling warm
for I think I was the warmest place
I ever saw Johny Hulbert is at Aurora
at school this winter I expect he is now
going to finish his education at the Aurora
school McClallen sends his respects
and would like to know how the Hunting
and fishing is in that country if it
is not good he will think the country
not worth much I expect I was sorry that
you could not have some good butter and
bread I suppose it will be a longe time before
you get this I hope to hear from you soon
your ever and affectionate Aunt
Clarinda M^cClallen