Peru June 5th 1864
Dear Sister
	       I have no news to write but there is more
than 3 cts worth in the envelope if I should not write
a word so I am going to send it.      I want you to
read
^[crossed out] [see] [illegible] last letter to me, and see if she is not meeting
			[Penned in red ink] [1864]
her reward.     Still I pity her some, for if an upstart
should come into my family and turn Wm and Matty
							       t
against me I [dont?] know what I should do, but I though^
Geo was [completely?] under [M's?] thumb,    Mother used
to say she might have ungrateful children of her own some
time.        When [you?] have read it as much as you care
about you may burn it, for I do not want any body but
your family to see it,     I do not think the likeness
will get lost and so I send it,    tell Charles we are
very much [pleased?] with his likeness,      and [Matty?] hopes
to be able to [send?] hers before long.     I hope A will
have good luck [with?] her school this summer and when

[Written sideways in red ink on the left side of Scan 1]

1864

[End]

she gets her pay in the fall cant [she?] come up and see
us, and stay all winter? I wish [Martha?] was where
she could help you and E'bby with your work this
summer for she is growing up in ideleness, and if
we lived on a farm I could [find?] plenty for them
to do.     I made some mistakes in marking out
the pattern but perhaps you can study it out if not I
will try again. The light piece [is?] Matty and Kittys
dresses, the red, M's [Garabaldi?].       I do not wear
my teeth any more for when my [twins?] [were?] little I had such
a sore mouth I could not wear them [for?] several months
and the spaces between the old ones [closed?] up and I cannot
get them in now, and as for the special occasions you
speak of, they never come to me, I only go to the store
or grocery once in a while and I have never been to
church or meeting since the day I [was?] married.
We are all well now but the [children?] have been exposed
to the Whooping Cough       Write [soon?]   yours, M E'. Bolt

[Written sideways on the left side of Scan 2]

Wm is at home now.

[End]