
I presume you will be a little surprised when you open this letter—and will cast your eyes down at the end of it before you read it to see the writers writer's name, but I received a letter from your Mother telling me of your very severe illness in wich which you have our Heartfelt Sympathy (Both my Husbands Husband's and myself) your Mother asked me to write to you & write about any thing she says will interest you
Now Cousin I hardly know what to write & there are many things of interest I could write about—But to
write to one who has so much knowledge and intellect I am afraid you will think me but a very poor hand at
it—and the trouble with cousin-Sarah she writes her letters so plainly—you must excuse my simple
way of writing you (now there is something that interests me just now and I will tell
you all about—it is to take place this month) to two
of my
Niece's are to be married one your Mother knows
Mr Oliver's daughter of Brooklyn—from your old neighborhood the other lives at
Binghampton Dr. Griffens Griffen's
daughter,
you may have heard of him he had charge of [illegible]
of the hospital at Alexandria during the war two Model wifes that
can grace the parlor or grace the kitchen (if need be) this is the kind of
wife, men in my opinion ought to look for not a doll to be looked at) I hope
cousin if you live to get well you will look about and get such an one for a
wife because you will need just such an one in your old days I do not mean to say you
are an old man bye by
any means because I do not know how old you are
(now do not suppose for a moment that I am a match maker (& no I am not) but I do feel sorry for old Bachelors)
methink I see you lay this Scribbles down with a remark: well cousin Sarah must think
I have a great deal of time to waste
it in reading this paper. But I have taken your Mother Mother's
advice—I said I did not know what to write her
reply was any thing would cheer you. Now I am fraid afraid
I have gone too far—but you must make all due allowance,
for me wont you. I could have written a more sympathetic letter (But then my heart is so
full of my own sad Afflictions) But nevertheless you have our sympathy
John has just called my attention to a paragraph in the evening express, in wich which it speaks of your improved health I can assure you we are glad to hear that it is so now cousin Walter if you feel that you have time to answer this scribble ing scribbling I should think it a favour (can you read it ( I doubt if you can) you do not know perhaps I am left handed so you will please make all due allances allowances John wishes to be remembered to you
truly your cousin Sarah Avery 152 Henry st New York