Augusta County: D. V. Gilkeson to Gilkeson's brother
(probably Hugh Gilkeson), June 6, 1864
Summary:
Gilkeson delivers updates about his family, emphasizing news about the children;
he also discusses the harvest season and farming prospects.
June 6th 1864
Home
My Dear brother
Your last was received two or three days ago I am happy to inform you that we are
all well on Monday night when I got home from town I found Willie complaining
seemed to have right smart fever he sleeps in a bed in the dining room and the
door into our room stands open about midnight I heard him complaining and went
out to see him he was complaining with a pain in his right leg I rubbed it for
him he seemed to suffer about half an hour not very severely I laid down on the
bed with him and he pretty soon fell asleep I slept there til morning he seemed
pretty well in the morning but came down from his school room during the morning
complaining of pain in his breast which he said he frequently has had at home it
pretty soon wore off and he went back to his school has been quite well ever
since. Emma is quite well they both seem to enjoy themselves very well seem to
be fond of their studies and are improving Sallie says study a good-deal better
than they did at first Emma is very fond of her arithmetick sallie says dont want to stop
sometimes when school is out Emma sets very much stooped we are trying to break
her of it try to get them all to set straight it is right hard to get Emma broke
but I hope we will before long Emma is very much attached to her aunt Mary and
me and also to Sallie. We are getting her[deleted: e] broke of her
pouty spells she dont have them as often as she had at
first I am in hopes she will make a fine singer she is fond of it they sing
every evening before
[page 2]
school is out, I wish very much we could get a
piano and give them all music lessons I cant afford to
buy at this time I intend to see if I cant get one to
rent Mary has been talking of seeing W
m
Guthrie to see if we cant get [unclear:
Marys
] to practice on by the way I dont believe I
told you that Mary was married she went off very slily
about the time we left home last winter to the west and married Daniel Guthrie
and it is said he was sick in bed at the time, strange things happen in the
world dont they she is the last one any person would
have thought of getting married, We are having very warm weather now and have
had since 1st June and a few days before but I have a most
miserable prospect for corn the ground was very much baked and came up very
badly they are not done replanting, yet most of persons say their corn is
dring
very well We have as fine a prospect for wheat yet I think as ever we
had will have harvest I expect about the last of the month will cut clover about
week after next harvest hands are going to be scarce John A Gilkeson [added: and I] have made arrangements to get ours off
he buys a mower and cuts my grass I buy a reaper and cut his wheat will join
hands, I have been quite well fed some time but feel
one of my spells coming on now am affraid I will
suffer for a few days, I got some cloth for Willie the other day to make him a
summer suit his aunt Emma is making it on her sewing machine Andrew talks of
coming out this week will bring it out with him if he dont Willie will go in Saturday for it Billy Guthries
[unclear: Hall] came over this morning and cut out a pair of shoes for
him the old fellow make a right nice shoe and he needs a nicer shoe
[unclear: for] his new clothes, I will stop now for a while as school is
just out and children [illeg.] coming [unclear: for] a play I
dont believe they will ever get tired of that part
of their education. I weighed and measured Willie his birth
day his weight was 681/2
lbs without shoes & stockings his height was
4 ft 43/8
in. nearly over 1/4 hardly 3/8 in his bare feet, You
ask for Andrews health it is good now has gotten
entirely over his cough, Rob Bickle has a lot and is putting up a neat house on
it and expects I think to sell it to A and I expect [illeg.] will buy it
he offers to give 10 years to pay it in expect his price will be about $5000
which is not high the [added: way] property is
selling no [unclear: person] here seems to have any fears of
confiscation My paper is full and must stop give my love to Carrie when you see
her am sorry that mary is [unclear: so] poorly [onto side of first page]
Love to all enquiring friends
from your attached brother
D V Gilkeson
Let me know how your wheat turns out
