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Home Oct. 16, 1854
Dear Belle
I know that you think I have forgotten you, but I hope you donot think that I have forgotten how to love you. The happyest moments of my life are those in which I think of You, Nelly, (god bless her) and that best of all good men, our dear Uncle Asa.
You say if he loves me so well, why ?[strikethrough] has he neglected to answer my letters so long. I will tell you, but I donot hope to be forgiven. I worked so hard all summer that I did not feel like writeing was one thing, and my writing looked so horible was another, and I was so very lazy was the greatest of all. these are in reality no reasons at all, but Dear Bell, let it pass, and if I do enough better in future then forgive me.
I wish you were here to see our new
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stove, it is called the nicee[strikethrough]st and best of any in western New York.
You would think that I would be. perfectly happi here, but I am not I am continually thinking of my friends and of the pleasent moments we have passe[d] together and I am always wishing to see those that I love best. The fact is Bell, I want some one to love. Some one to love as I do you, but I want the person here, and there is none here, I shall throw from[underlined] myself away.
Aunt Hill is well and sends lots of love to you and Nelly, and to All of your folks. All of our folks are well and I hope happy but I fear some of them are not. All send love and respects and all wish to see you and Nelly. Oh, Bell, I wish that Mother could come to see you she would enjoy it so much. but I fear she will never see you again. By the by Little Charly is sick poor fellow he is sick most all of the time.
Have you read Uncle Toms Cabin yet.
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if you have, you will know what a little she devii[strikethrough]l our "Topsy" is.
Laura is well and sends her love to you all.
Do you have any spiritualests in Monticello We have some here, rather a great many. I am about half spiritualest myself. Some very queer things happen in their circles and they get some very queer mesages from the departed spirits, here is one that I have been thinking about all day. it is said to be from Robert Burns, by the way they receive a great may mesages from him and the are all very charicteristic of the great Poet.
One of the circle exclaimed I wonder if Burns loves his Highland Mary yet The medium immediately wrote,
"Tis true I loved my Mary dear But all we know are lovely here."
It is a very beautifull thought is it not. Bell. No matter whether it came from the depart d.
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spirit of Bob Burns or not. All are lovely in heaven, and Dear Bell, do you believe that all are to go there, I. do.
Tell Nelly that I shall answer her letter as soon as I have fulfilled my promise which I hope will be soon.
I was in New York last week and enjoyed my self hugely.
By the way Bell when are you to be married. Uncle Asa says he has given his consent to your union. I wonde[r] if you are not going to ask mine.
Good bye. Mr. W. Welch.
My. Bell. way down south
