Grand Chute April 13th 1863

Dear Aunt 

We received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear that you was well and it found us all well but William and he is getting along slowly.  He cannot do as much work yet.  It is a dreadful thing to go in the army and be sick.  It is very warm pleasant weather now.  Father has got done making sugar and got his wheat most all sold.  We made about 300 pounds of sugar or perhaps I had ought to say six hundred for Father _____ with one the neighbors in our bush and he had half.  It is pretty _____ times hear(sp). Everything is so dear that we cannot get enough at one time so get anything to speaks of everything is double what it used to be but we shall have to stand it.  There is not much hopes of the war being ended right away.  We got a letter from Cousin Mary that Grandfather was dead.  They wrote part of the first page of a very small sheet of paper.  They did not write anything to speak of at all.  We answered it right off but we have not got any answer.  Perhaps it is because we are all most strangers and it is not interesting for them to write to us but we like to hear from our relations if we can’t see them. How I wish you would come out hear this summer and see us.  We are all at home. Elvia is a great big girl.  She is the largest of any of us and you do not know how large that is no it is no matter whether I tell you or not.  Uncle Ira’s folks and Aunt Clarrie’s are well.  You must write as soon as you get this and write all about all the relation you know’s any about.

Ann

As Ann has got her letter done I thought that I would write a few lines.  I think that Uncle Henry charges a pretty good price for board.  I should think that he would get rich in a little while.  I do not think that it is right but I suppose that it will have to be as he says. I want you to answer this letter for you are the ones that we hear from.  The rest do not like to take the trouble to write to us but I will not write anymore.

Hannah

Dear Cousin

You wanted Hannah to write and tell you what had become of me but I thought I would tell you myself if she did not say anything about me in her letter for I am hear(sp) at home helping do the work and I think I shall be this summer if nothing happens.  I should like to see you very much and I could tell you more in an hour than I would in a great many letters but I can say something this way.  Uncle Ira is hoeing on his farm.  They are all well and so was Aunt Clarrie’s folks the last I heard from them.  Father is going to town this morning and you must excuse this short letter.  Write as soon as you get this.  

From your cousin

Ann Smith