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Acton Feb 1st 1864
Cousin Jones
While at my work
in Mr Schoulers shop this morning
Warren brought me a letter from N.O.
I knew the moment I looked at it that
it came from you and as soon as I
read I concluded to answer it to
night which I think will surprise
you for I have not answered your
letters so soon for sometime past.
I was very glad to hear that you
were well and like your new
place. I suppose a change seems
good after being in one place so long
I should not think you would want
to re-enlist, you have been away from
home so long but I suppose you have
[p.2]
got used to staying away from home and
it seems like home to you out there
now, I suppose. I know a little by
experience and I know that the shop
where I have worked for four
successive seem most as much like
home to me as my home does.
But your situation is quite different
from mine. I can see my folks every
evening & morning, while you have not
seen your for most three years.
Well, Jones, we have had quite a time
here in “old Acton”. We have had
our old “Town house” supplied with
a new one and week before
last we dedicated. It was crowded
to the utmost from gallery to the
pulpit. I was there & had a fine
time. when the dancing commenced
we only had room to turn. there
was no comfort to be taken dancing
that evening. We have got a
very pretty town house indeed
[p.3]
They have a nice place for the armory, and
I wish the war was over and the armory
of Acton (soldiers) was safely deposited in the
town house. perhaps you will agree
with me on that point.
Last week I went to a levee
at West Acton and had a very fine time
but I did not dance I did not care to for
there was such a crowd.
Ella Beck has been up and been
with us to the levees. she went
home last Friday.
I dont know as I ought to tell
you what father and Gus did yesterday
for it was Sunday. but it want
very bad so I guess I will tell you.
Gus was walking in the woods as
he always does and there has been
a light snow so he could see tracks
well he got a mink’s track and
sent John home for his father
and father started too. he went
down to the boiling spring
[p.4]
(you know where that is) and
they followed him down past
Mr Wildes, down to Jim Parkers
lane onward to the swamp there
they found where he had wrestled
with a muskrat and had drawn
him to his nest well of course
they went to digging and the
first they got a muskrat with
his head partly eaten off and
they got a mink. now do
you think that was a bad job?
I dont think it much sin for they did
not fire a gun. Now if you
could see gus he would tell the greatest
mink story that every you heard
George is at work in a shoe
shop in Marlboro this Winter
he like his work very well but
he dont like the place as well as
he does Acton. I dont think
he likes the girls as well but
I dont know. What do you think
about it.
[top of p.1]
I heard that Cousin Billy [William B. Reed] was dead. how sad
it is. Katie and Wallace
feel dreadfuly about it and
so does Henry Deluce his
half brother. He did not
seem to want to go
I should like to hear
all the particulers
Poor Billy I little thought
I had seen him for the
last time.
Write soon
Fannie
All send much
love