Co.
	High Point Moniteau ^ Mo.
		July 25th 1864
Dear Sister & family
		          If you are able
to use a pen I wish you would write
if you are not get some one to write for
you.  I have been waiting a long
time to hear from you.   I replied
to your last letter by the next mail
after I received it.  perhaps you are
getting like Ell said she was when I
was there.  she said she didnt care
about hearing from her friends that
were so far off and had been gone so long
and she shouldnt trouble herself to write
to them, if such be the case with you
let me know and I wont trouble you
again.   I have been sick since the
last of June with the Billious fever but
am now about the house again.  Quinine
and Colomel the two remedies of this

country will cure anything.
     Most of the crops took have come in
good wheat and Oats are excellent, corn
is late but very good.    sugar cane is
pretty generally good, we have about an
acre and a half that is very good, we
have a small piece of cotton.  it is low
but very full of blossoms.  I think we
will have a fair crop. probably as much
as I will spin next winter, and if you
and your family will come and spend
the winter with me there will be as
much as we will will all spin.
     I had a letter from Jim while I
was sick he was well then and thought
he would not be able to come north
this summer.    I have never heard
from Sol. since he went in the army
nor have never been able to find out
his address I wish when you write you
would let me know how to direct to
him.      I would like to know where
Mc Causey has settled. I hear by way

          of Dwights folks they were not
        satisfied in Mich.
Baz was here about three weeks they
were all well then. I have heard nothing
from them since.  Mr. Payn's health
is not very good this summer he is
able to work some.   we are unable
to get help to work on the farm.   we 
have had no other help but a small
black boy which is poor help indeed
it amounts to allmost none at all.
     If it hadnt been such hard times
for money and we were obliged to pay
out so much in the spring to get our
place ready to go on I would have spent
the summer with you. The hot
weather affects me more this summer
than it ever has before.
     Now I have already written more than
I intended to when I begun so I will
close by asking you and the girls to write
sending love to all and subscribing
	your sister D.H. Payn