Your very welcome and kind favour of the 25th ult. To the 4th inst., was received and read the last evening. I regret to learn that you are still so poorly. I do hope that you will be able to find something to help you before long. My health is good and I have enjoyed myself pretty well, since we arrived here, strolling around, picking blackberries, and gathering apples form orchards on deserted farms. The apples are not ripe but are quite palatable when roasted. I have been up on Pilot Hill, which is in sight of our quarters. On account of the timber I did not have as extensive a view from the top as from the side, a short distance from the top, where an area of many miles is presented to view. The country appears to be hilly as far as the eye can reach, and timbered mostly. I expect that tomorrow we will move about 14 miles from here; not 14 miles ahead but back on the road that we came. Objective of the move: to get a better situation, but I think that I would about as lief remain here, for we are so (far) from neighbours here that those disposed here have not as good an opportunity to rob gardens and the like. I never did like the idea of taking the last mouthful from women and children, and now that the Southerners are so completely humble, I think is the height of pusillanimity to rob henroosts and steal their vegetables. And I hope there is one chap of my size that will not be guilty of such base conduct. I believe I wrote you that not a house was left in Salem, but a very few log huts in the vicinity of the charred ruins are an exception, but hardly worth the name of houses. I am glad to learn theat brother Edwin has returned home, but regret to learn that his health is so poor. I hope that the bracing air of Minnesota and the pleasant associations of home, togehter with the solicitous care and king nursing of friends will soon bring him back to his maximum weight. I am obliged to you for your account of financial matters. I think you have managed exceptionally well, with the exception of the wheat, and perhaps I would not have done any better. Perhaps it will do us good to get our fingers burnt a little. I do not feel at all disposed to brood over that, Sula.
I am afraid that you are depriving yourself of things that would conduce to your comfort and happiness. Please do not so so, Dear Sula, for the sake of laying up money for getting a team, even. If after you have spent all that is necessary for you recovery, comfort and happiness, anything is left / very good. If nothing is left and your health is restored I think that we will be very thankful.
Since arriving here, the boys have killed three deer, so that we have fared sumptuously. I also received a letter last evening form Mother. I guess that I will try and answer her today.
Remember me to Father and Mother and the rest of the folks and write when convenient to
Your Affectionate Husband
Levi Emery.
