[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Boston, Wednesday morn, April 26 /54
My dear cousin Louise
Though I shall not probably be able to write a very long letter this morning, I feel constrained to have a little chat with you, hoping to gain some intelligence from you before many days. Sometime in January, it being vacation, and I at home, I wrote you quite a long letter, but as I never received any reply, I conclude you did not get it. If this reaches you, I hope you will not neglect to answer immediately. Please direct to R. J. Weston - 25 Elliott St. Boston, and it will not fail to come. Our family are all pretty well now. Father has been quite ill - threatened with fever, but is now recovering. I had a fever before vacation, and was confined to my room in the Seminary nearly six weeks. When I became able, I came home. If nothing happens to prevent, I anticipate returning three weeks from to-day.
How funny it seems to think of you as a young lady - you were such a wee little pet when you went to the "far West."
And how do you like that "land of the setting sun?" Do you not sometimes think you would like to see the green hills of New England, and the friends who love you there? You cannot think how often our thoughts fly over the hills and valleys and lakes and rivers to you, unless indeed your own heart tell you. We long to see you so much! - Week before last (I think it was) Aunt Salina, Sarah Allen, and your little name-sake, the babie Lulie spent several days with us, and we all enjoyed it much. I suppose you hear from Reading quite often, do you not? I have not seen Aunt Sabrina since last Thanksgiving. She has been here, but I was at the Seminary. -
In a certain drawer in mother's bureau there is a small red-covered Bible that has lain there for months, and to whom do you suppose it belongs? Could you guess? Father has not sent it, because we have been waiting to hear from you, that we might be sure to direct it properly, so that you would not lose it. Father was very, very much delighted because you persevered, and earned the
highlittle Gift by compliance with the specified conditions. Just as soon as you let us know how to direct it, that it may not fail to reach you, you shall have it.All write in sending a deal of love to you, and in the hope that at some day not very far distant, they may see you and all the family. How are your father and mother, and my brave cousins, George and Charlie and Wendell. The latter have got to be quite men, I suppose, and if George and I should stand up together as we did the last time he was here, I doubt whether we should be so near of a heigh. I wish they would write to me. Ask them to, will you not?
But time is fast slipping away, and as I have much to do, it is about time to begin, I think. Write very soon - ask any questions that may arise, and they shall all be answered to the best of my ability. Now don't fail to write immediately to
Cousin R. J.
Sometime in March, mother and Aunt Sabrina called upon Mrs. Fiske. She had been quite ill for seven or eight weeks, but was better then. Her oldest daughter had been very ill indeed all Winter.