p.

falling sparrow that He will
preserve the absent ones [untainted?]
by camp life, and if consistant with
his will return them sound in body
and mind to their home and friends.

Perhaps thy son has chosen the
missionary field and is instructing the
Freedmen. It seems to me we ought
not to censure any one for enlisting
in the present war for who shall
say that it is not under the super-
vision of Him who holds the destinies
of nations. I would not say he orders
it, but permits it. I doubt whether
by any other means that long desired
boon , (freedom to the bondman,
would have been produced, too
many are living as under that dispen-
sation whose retributive justice was
blood for blood, the question naturally
arises will as much blood be shed in
this war as has been shed under the
foul system of slavery.

[page break]

Henry bought a farm in a retired
situation, of 160 acres pretty well
fenced, divided about in the middle
making a nice pasture of about 60
acres the land for tilling is rather
rolling, but it is all the better for
that this season as it has been rather rainy
thus far which has greatly retarded the
springs work. H has his wheat in,
Pine Creek runs through the pasture
and there is a nice little grove in it
for shade to the cattle the grass looks
nice and green. There are several [deleted]
thrifty looking apple threes and cherry trees
and curent bushes on the place; we have
set out gooseberry & rhaspberry bushes
and hope to more as well as straw-
berries and try and make us a home
of our own; such a thing as we have
not known for several years past
our house is rather small but it does
very well for the present, the [?] of
the house is 16 x 20 divided about in