jan the 29 1865
My Dear son i will try to write a few lines to
let you know how we are geting a long we got
			          the
your letter that was wrote jan ^ 1 and we were
   we
as ^ always are very glad to hear from you your
						  r
letters are very precious to me i read them ove^
a great many times i have not much news to tell
as the girls write all thomas sherwood went to 
see mr curtis last night they have got no
letter yet from mrs potter they are going
to write again on monday thomas give a him
			  ned
paper to send to get sing^ by her and the
						  te
heirs it was the forepart of Nov he said he wro^
				        not
but did not send the paper he could ^ see the use 
of it he has promised to send it of tomorrow
i hope they will get tired of being talked to if no
letter comes thomas will will write to her we
						        s
have a very cold winter we had 2 very stormy day^
last week today is pleasent when you wrte us 
     us
tell ^ how you stand the cold at nights if it
affects your eyes i think of you ever night when
i go to bed i cannot tell you how i feel and
your father he thinks he would tell you all
if he could write but hope you will both live
to come back and if it please god to share us then
[?] we can talk of the past we sometimes get good
encouragement in the papers and by what we
hear that we think the war will soon be ended
may god grant it so to be oh what rejoiceing 
their would be but you are both now in a place
where we cannot but feel very uneasy we may
not know all the dangers you are exposed to
but we know your are deprived of many comfor
			in	
and their no helping it ^ so [crossed out] letters from
			Sherman army they say he
				  tells them if they

			 to
behave well and be true ^ him in four months
he would give them a furlough you said the the 
rebels came over to your side what is done to them
					suffer
are they made prisoners i am affraid you ^ much with 
cold of your hands i want you to tell us your father
has killd one beef createure and bought [nrlmot?]
						      ed
light wagon and harness so for 30 Dolars he want^
   dol
45 ^ a while ago there is great revival at the red
shool school house they will keep all next week
        is
their ^ talk of building a new curch church down
north about 60 joined the church yesterday but
they babtized a great many they are called
the disciples we are all well so that we are
round some of us have bad colds i am affraid 
that you both in such a place as you are in
cannot keep clear of colds but i hope the lord
will protect you from sickness and from all
dangers where ever you are and defend you
and shield you from the enemy he is able he
is willing and will save those that put their
whole trust in him and serve him with sin
					        e
cerity and oh may our heavenly father guid^
					back
and keep you and return you both safe ^
to your homes and friends Mary has been
to mr barnards all night emaline little boy
is not likely to live Tomy has wrote you a letter
it is well composed but you could not read
it he would feel bad if he knew we did not send 
it your father and dely is drawing stalks to
day i need not tell you how much we want
at home again but we hope all will be well
i will try to write to you again and tell you
more particulars i remain your affectionate v 
      mother 
						Sarah Noddins
i think their will be a time
						w
you may not get so many letters as you do no^
	then i will try to write more