[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading]Gallipolis, Ohio
july 18th 1860This is the last letter you will get from home I expect, and if we have to cry to keep the river navigable you will have to come some other way we cannot cry for laughing, just think only two weeks till our darling is with us you will be a regular graduate by the time you get this, if you have studdied [sic] hard enough to suit the "Smart ones" and I wish you much joy on the occasion my poor tiard [sic] child.
The Acadamy [sic] closed yesterday with Union meeting, Pa was there and he sais [sic] it was as good as it used to be when you used to attend. Mr and Mrs Cooley will be glad to hear that the Miss Searses start home next monday, Mrs Sears is going to Ill. to see an aunt that has been vary [sic] sick for a long time I do not remember her name one that used to live with Mrs Davis, I think Mr Davis fails a good deal I had not seen him for several months till last week it made me sad to see him look so febl [sic] and poor, he was in good spirits but said he did not feel as well as usual.
We are all well as usual but our baby dose [sic] not grow any he is a so poor and such a pitifull [sic] little dear we are afraid he will never be a man but he is better than he was and plans and laughs sometimes. We do not know who will take Mr Rices place at the union.
Now was not you a real smart girl to go and send your father your love letter ha-ha I cannot return that half sheet in this letter, we will have to send the money for you to come home with, I hope you will not feel bad about not getting it sooner, it ought to have been sent sooner, but I hope nothing will detain the letter and then you will not have to wait.
Pa could not get suitable bills so he bought another draft for you on New York we think you will have no trouble to get it Cashed for the right kind of money, the draft calls for 40 forty dollars, we want you to have as much as you will need if any thing should happen you would not be out of money, but dear you must be careful of your money and not spend a dime unless you need it. We have not had to borrow any for you but we have had to be real saveing [sic] to get enough to bring you home without. We paid Grandma her money last winter. I dont suppose there is any need to tell you to be saveing but it is the way we always contrive and talk to each other about such things[.]
We do not know what to advise you to do about the rout [sic] you take home the river is real low now and you know it is very uncertain about it in the Summer but we think if you was at Marietta you could get home some way if you have a RR guide you can find out better than we which is the best way, Brother tried to find out something about it and so has Pa but you know what the river is at this season no one can tell two week[s] before hand whether boats can run or not you will come with Miss Eivet [sic] as far as you can I suppose, you must write which way you intend to come and all about your troubles and joys[.]
Sister Maddy has got so she dose [sic] most every thing but her finger is far from well Cousin and the rest are well -
[change in handwriting]
Dear daughter, I suppose by the time this reaches you you will be ready to start for home, we are all glad enough I think you had better come home the same way you went from here, I think it would be unsafe to come to the Ohio river above Marietta, but if you can get to Marietta easier or cheaper than on the route you went, I think you may probably get down from there[.]
I send you a draft on the same house in New York that the other I sent was on, I hope you will have no trouble to get it Cashed, I suppose there is 'Merchants or 'Brokers, in your vicinity that can accomodate you I could not get Bank bills suitable, beside I think the Draft will be safer, perhaps Miss Ewart, or her friend know better than we do which is the best route for you to come as I suppose you will come in company as far as you can,-
Father