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[Dec 30-31
1869]

East Montpelier, Vt.

My darling Cousin;

I'm sure I love
thee if thee is "naughty" and I began
to think thee was a little before thy
letter came, orn rather, to come nearer the
truth, I feared from thy long silence
thee was not able to write either on
account of thy own health or that of
George's or worse still, from lack of in-
clination to write. Thy letter dispelled
these fears and did me a deal of good.
I think I am among the favored of
girls to own such a dear, good cousin as
thee is, and I thank thee for the privilege
of corresponding with thee - I still class
myself among the "girls" thee sees - though
I really belong to the "ancient maidens" as
[Saxe?] impiously calls them. But from a
child or nameless relative, near a kin,
personified to me, the tribe of "old maids"

[in left margin:]

I am glad to hear of Henry McAllister, he was Willie's dearest
friend, and for
years mine too,
but he had sadly
neglected our
family since he
went to St. Albans.
This is a long
letter of nothings