Merchants Hotel
     Saint Paul. Minnesota
		Sept. 22.d 1863.
Darling Emma
	             Here I
am in the City of Saint
Paul After a long and 
weary ride on the Miss.
for two days _ I enjoyed
myself however very
well for we were on 
board of a splendid Steam-
-boat _ whose Officers did
every thing in their power
to make us all happy
     Darling. Much Loved
Emma _ Could you
have only been with 
me to admire the
Splendid Scenery
along the River banks

then indeed would
Mark have been happy
     Pet.!
	Tomorow morning
I finish My business
in Saint Paul and
Start forManKato
to visit my friends
there for a few days
before leaving again 
for the South _ you
can expect me at
your home somewhere
betweene the 5.th &. 8.th
Inst. Say nothing out 
side of the family
and we will sur-
prise the Natives
We will then see my 
dear Girl. whether we
are Coquetts or not.
Emma this is afine

     City about forty
thousand inhabitants
it has grown very
	         was
much since I were
here some two years 
ago.
          Darling. You can
bet that I am getting 
anxious to see you
for it is some time
now since I have 
heard oneword from
you. Please excuse the
brevity of this will try
and write soon after
my arrival home
	Love to all –
and ten thousand Kisses
      Your Loving
	              “Mark”.