Rushville Apr 28th 1848My Dear Sister Julia
We received your letter Teusday [sic] was very sorry to hear that you were so unhappy I hope that when you received this you will be all over it & happy. You must not scold if this is a short letter for I shall not have time to write a long one perhaps a short one may comfort you a little. Forest Harwood has just called he seems to natural as life told us all about Frank & Annette, he returns in about one week come last Teusday. [sic] We were very much supprised [sic] to hear of your being so home-sick never have heard any such thing before, what has started you now I should like to know it makes us all feel very bad to have such news, but I hope & trust you are all over it now. Pa is going to send you some money & if you want to you must to [do?] a ride or so in vacation & if you want to board out vacation, I would if I was in your & Clara's place I should.
We had a great concert here the other evening they were the Barker Family perhaps you have heard of them I heard them they sing well.
We have had very pleasant weather here all this spring I have got all of the yards cleared off but we have not cleaned house any yet but shall go at it soon[.] I have been sewing some, instead to go to Concordaigna next week after my pattern I expect I shall be busy now most of the time. I dread it some. May wants I should ask you what it is that makes you so homesick. Is it because you are without funds, or is it because you cannot get along with your studies or are you sic, or what is it. You must tell us.
I told Clara that she must send you a note in this and she said she would. Julia I have had to stop writing to baste on some flounces for Hellen & gave her the priviledge [sic] of writing whilst & you will find it on the last page in the mean time Pa has been up to Mr. Harwoods to see what they thought about the box they all agreed in the thinking that it would be best for them to send you the money & not a box Mary said it cost 3 dollars to send the other one Pa said you can have money in the room of the box & you must board out & go to Springfield or somewhere else for a ride & get you a nice dinner or supper or some eatables, & then perhaps you will have so that you can get you some kind of a summer shall or will have money bye & bye to get your white dress. Your Gingham you can have made as soon as you get home next fall but we will talk about that in my next Pa send[s] 16 dollars Ma the one she says she will try and have these things against you get home. Mr Hawley was burried [sic] last Sunday James cut & scars [?] the same as ever if I could have caught him long enough he should have wrote he will next time I geuss [sic]
I have been kindred some this forenoon so that I have had to write in a great hurry & it is no time the letter went to the office you must be a good girl and not a home sick one so good bye
From your sister Lydia
Give a good bunch of love
[Handwriting changes - this is Hellen.]
Julia Fanning, if I am not ashamed of you homesick, you must use of of that ointment I was going to rub on Cas. [?] I believe you need me there to keep you in good spirits. I am at your house Lydia is putting on my flounces, you must not be after being wanting to come home until next summer I shall not be ready for you until that, I am glad you have Miss Tolman to comfort you she is one of the right sort. I [...] unsure I should like to share your room well enough you must think I me as these, but I must not take any more of Lydia's sheet. You must be of good cheer, and scour up your courage. [...] urge you must write me soon, and Tot-too good bye. Your aff. sister Helen. Give my love to all the folks.