RK-104

La Salle Aug 23 Thursday evening 1855 [in pencil]

Dear Mother

I staid last night in Freeport Shall stay here till tomorrow noon will be in Decatur tomorrow night. Will probably go to Springfield Saturday but will be guided by what I hear from father.

I have got a fine lot of shells.

If it has not been done already I very much wish Charlie would put up the brass ferule [page torn] to my butterfly catcher which is on the end of the [page torn] and send it [page torn] mail to me at Decatur care of Dr H. C. [page torn]. I must have it or I am lost. [page torn] [illegible] it at Decatur [page torn]hen I get there

We had a first rate time at Uncle Asa [page torn] I never enjoyed a party so much — Aunt [page torn] & Uncle Asa did everything they could to make [page torn] pleasant and any body that says they are not grint[?] as good as they can be is a - "Don't know anything about it" Because Uncle Asa's notions don't agree with others on some matters of small moment is no reason why he may not be all right in the main If anybody wants to say they their caring for appearances makes them in any way unkind I am ready to dispute the point.

I hope you will send Aunt Nettie some of those Siberians and any other goodies that come handy

Mrs Clarke was not in Chicago. Bob promised to bring it ^{the money} out with him - Old Williams (E Willams) very cooly said he wished to see father before paying his bill; did not state his reasons. I did not try to get money of any one else Charlie Pease's boat was not to leave for two or three days. I wrote to his mother.

Tell Maria I felt very sorrowful after that final parting. Had the blue D-ls till I got among the shells & frogs at Freeport

Love to all

Tell Bruno I hope he wo'nt forget the snakes Dr Blaney told me of Charl[page torn] valuable addition

[page torn] Bob

From Bob