Canandaigua Jan 7th .55Dear Cousin
I received your letter 2 weeks ago yesterday & after this long delay I have attempted to answer it I was very glad to hear that you were going to school & enjoying yourself although you have not a very large school I suppose that you can learn just as fast. The weather at the time you wrote us was I should think was about the same as here but at preasent [sic] it rains which the opinion of people in general will turn to snow it is very bad going as it is very muddy. I went home 2 weeks ago last night & went to Bloomfield to meeting Sunday I see Eliza she said that the folks were all well as usual. Joel was here a little while ago he said they had a letter from Jane yesterday she was enjoying herself very much she wrote that Mothers oldest brother was dead he died last Tuesday very sudden. & so it is our friends are often taken from us in a time when it is least expected. I wrote my other letter to you at the same time I wrote one to Jane sent them to the office by Mr Cooley & he said that he paid the postage but I had an answer from Jane & she said that her letter came to her with out the postage being paid & if yours was not you must excuse me as it is not my fault I do not know any news to tell you unless it is that Norton Knapp is married to a girl by the name of Willson, he was married Christmas. O Reamer has got a boy to hear though I have not seen it or him rather Joel says he brags about it considerable[.]
My head aches very badly & I must draw to a close & it is almost time to get supper you must not cease to think of Bloomfield.
Give my love to all enquiring friends & keep a share for yourself[.] Answer soon & believe me ever your affectionate Cousin
O E Steele