p.

Battle Creek 4th m. 20th /62

My esteemed friend

Thy kind letter of the 25th inst was
duly rec'd and appreciated. Such messages of love are
as "beacon lights" to the mariner. They renew our courage
and cheer us on our way to the desired port, particularly
if we are deprived of both first and second mates, thou
seems to truly anticipate my loneliness, in the absence of my
pet Sarah as thou terms her whose filial tenderness and
buoyant spirits has done so much to lighten the task
of life, yet I feel rebuked if I give utterance to a murmer
of even a sigh for the probable temporary absence only of my
dear children, because it is certainly a very light thing
compared to what thousands of mothers in our nation
are at this moment suffering. The picture thou draws
of camp life & the Battle field, bad as it is, I apprehend is a
very true one, and how grateful any reasonable mother
must feel that her sons can be spared the participation
in such a conflict. But when and what is to be the end?
seems to be the great question. If this is retributive justice
and the natural result of our great national Sin Slavery
can we expect a final and peaceful termination
without a change of policy? That of establishing the
time and professed principles of Justice and equality.
Then we might be brethren and love one another