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[circle] Gowanda Jan 28. 1854
Dear Major.
You are no doubt calling me a d-d rascall and I plead guilty to your charge and Major I will not insult you by offering numerous apollegies for the long delay in answering you letter
I have been very slack in answering all my letters for the last two month, and you are served no worse than Our dear Bell. old Deacon. Bob & Laura. and severall others out of the family.
I received a letter from Bell over a month ago and another about a week ago and have written no answers to eather yet, She speaks of you
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very much.
I am alone in the store now and it is rather mean buiseness. If I could only be with you for a time it would not be quite so hard but Major there is a "good [time?] coming with a little longer". Aunt Hill and all are qute well and the all send their love to you. Little Charlies burns are most healed but it leaves a frightfull scar a third of the back part of his head is entirely raw and bare and probably there will be no hair on it. Ther is fine scateing and sleighing here now but I have enjoyed but two sleigh rides this winter and have scated none at all notwistanding I have the best pair of scates in
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the place.
March 1.
The creak is full of slush ([ansher ise?]) ise and some think that there is danger of its carying off all the bridges between here and the lake. Sunday night the reek at[strikethrough] came up to [illegible, strikethrough] within two feet of the bottom of the bridge down by the Waterman Farm, but it is severall feet lower now
the ise is from two to 8 feet thick all the way from here to Versailes six miles before.
Every one of our family and friends are well. And Adelin has brought fourth another strope.
Yours Wm.