(seq. 18)

All my happifying thoughts are of the anticipated joys of next vacation. Willet the Clerk was down to the canal a week ago today. A fine boat was there. He hear a man & woman talking about a stone house with green blings & the heading on the hills. He stepped up & asked them about whome they were talking. They told him, said you were well and gave him no card or name. I know from desciption that it must be non other than Lewis Bustis'.

Do write very soon. Tell about the strawberres & peaches, charres & plums. Joseph talks some of going with us & going to his fathers with me. Joshua & Elisha want to come too. I guess I will come home & live this winter & let Mary & Merritt go to Washington Co. H. wants J.M. to come there & stay & go to school & Aaron & Gula do not feel at all satisfied with Mary. Visit G. Said Aaron could noe be reconciled to M's going home last winter. How I wish J.M. would wned me or us some strawnerries by express or some merchant or [??dy] coming down on the Cass. Guess I can stand it through till I come and now be all ready to viist. I can it be [sta???] with you in ten weeks. Now Merritt write. Tell me how the yard looks, what flowers are in blossom, & all about the family business.

Love to all, S.B.A.