So. Hadley Mass.
June 6th 1865.My dear Johnny;
Though I am expecting to go home very soon I send you a line in advance - not exactly an "advance guard," but as a Courier to let you know I'm coming.
I have not fixed the day yet for a certainty, but shall try hard to go up next Saturday. If not then shall go some time in the following week. My visit will necessarily be very short as I have engaged to go to work at Thorndike about the 15th[.] You had better go up to meeting next Sabbath with the intention of going over with me to tea.
I am very sorry to leave So. Hadley, it is such a pleasant place. It is a very fertile section of the country, consequently all vegetation is very luxuriant. There are no such barren and stony hills near here as back twenty miles from the river. Very little waste land here - the pastures here in this valley are richer land than most of the fields in our part of New Hamp. - and the cattle are fat and sleek. There has been so much rain during the Spring, that the farmers are but just done planting. This kind of soil holds the water late and when wet is very muddy.
A good while since, I sent you a set of cards with Curious Bible Questions upon them. Did you find out many of them? I'll put the key into this letter. [no longer with the letter] I had forgotten it till I found it in my memorandum. I thought, when I sent the cards, you had better study upon them awhile without the key. I have some curious "Modern Hieroglyphics" that I'll take in my pocket for you when I go home.
But I'll not stop to write you much of a letter this time as I am going home and shall see you so soon.
Remember me to your father and mother, as well as Lewis and Carrie. I guess we must n't either of us be so lazy about writing in the future. We shall get all out of the habit.
But good bye till I see you. Every truly
Your uncle Ben.