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Dear Walt,

I recived​ received​ yours of fourth to day and was agreeable surprised to here​ hear​ of your improved Health. I had almost come to the conclugen​ conclusion​ that you had given me up for the lost child [no handwritten text supplied here] many a time [no handwritten text supplied here] I have wondered what kind of a fellow you thought I was. I dont​ don't​ suppose there Has a day past over my Head without me thinking of you.

I am also very glad to learn of Mrs. Siters. I suppose she Has a Hard time of it. I recived​ received​ one letter from her and Johnnys​ Johnny's​ Wife they wrote me rather a lamentable letter. Poor Jo Adams Im​ I'm​ sorry he is a fine fellow tell him I send him my pies​ pious​ regards and hope he will get well soon. Johnny Cahall I cant altogether place him did he visit to live in Camden [no handwritten text supplied here] I guss​ guess​ so.

So they have got the dummies running on Market St. [(] I here​ hear​ they reduced the wages to two dollars) The perment​ permanent​ Exhibition I suppose will create almost as big a time this summer as last. Im​ I'm​ sorry times is so Hard in Philadelphia and so many famlys​ families​ are in distress. I am glad Mrs. Siter is going to Have a small famley​ family​ and perhaps John Pickens will assist her. I suppose Goorge​ George​ is pretty smart I cant help but think about poor old Granmother​ Grandmother​ Gouth.

Well Walt my dear old friend you say you feel wicked enough at times wich​ which​ you consider a good sign [(]I hope it is) you say you have been traveling a good [de]al. I hope you will be home to get this any way I will direct to your old Headquarters.

Well Walt I will endevor​ endeavor​ to give you a rugh​ rough​ scetch​ sketch​ of my wanderings since I seen you. You know I could not content my self in Phila.—I was in Hot water all the time [no handwritten text supplied here] to come and see you before I left I Had not the corage​ courage​ to do that [no handwritten text supplied here] so I drawed​ drew​ my money from the Centennial went down to my sister's [no handwritten text supplied here] she was not at home but Annie, Johnny's Wife was thir​ there​ [no handwritten text supplied here] I tould​ told​ her my intentions [no handwritten text supplied here] I was very sorry I did not see Mrs Siter [no handwritten text supplied here] Went direct from thir​ there​ to the Depo​ Depot​ and in less than half an Hour I was behind the iron Horse stearing​ steering​ twards​ towards​ Sunsit​ Sunset​ came strate​ straight​ through to St. Louis. Had a little row with some Pickpockets on the Road—staid​ stayed​ in St. Louis three Weeks then came out to Pleasant Rige​ Ridge​ whare​ where​ I wrote you a letter but got no answer [no handwritten text supplied here] staided​ stayed​ thir​ there​ about one month then moved East about seven miles to Grays and I think I wrote you a letter from thir​ there​ but never received an answer (began to think you had gone back on me) staid​ stayed​ thir​ there​ until the twentyfourth​ twenty-fourth​ March when I Emegrated​ emigrated​ here to Effingham Co. Ill. And am farming on my own Hack) Thir​ There​ is two Hundred and sixty acres in the farm and the way I spraind​ sprained​ my Rist​ Wrist​ was Plowing a stumppy​ stumpy​ pece​ piece​ of Ground [(]I Have got about ten acres of corn planted about thirty acres plowed) this is a very Backward Spring Hear​ Here​ as you say it is thir​ there​ . The times Here is pretty Hard asposuly​ especially​ with me as I Have got all my captal​ capital​ invested in starting Farming [no handwritten text supplied here] But if my crops prospers and the European War continues I will com​ come​ out all right and I guess make a big thing.

Walt I have got a big lot of work to do about three mens​ men's​ work; But I think Compent​ Competent​ to the Emergence if I keep my Helth​ health​ [no handwritten text supplied here] You asked me about the women kinder a sticken​ sticking​ it at me oh well I can get all the woman I want out Hear​ Here​ But I havent​ haven't​ topt​ topped​ any of them yet. I got to be afraid of them they are treachers​ treacherous​ dont​ don't​ you think so [no handwritten text supplied here] right around within a gun shot thir​ there​ is a dozen Widows this is not a very healthy part of the world. Walt I still retain the ring you gave me and of course when I look at that I must think of you. You sent me a peaper​ paper​ which is very exceptable​ acceptable​ indeed as news Hear​ Here​ is very scarce [no handwritten text supplied here] I would like very much to have a Phila.​ Philadelphia​ peaper​ paper​ .

Walt I would like you to go up to no 722 north 36 st. to see my sisters they are thir​ there​ keeping a Boarding House do go to see them and give them some advice thir​ there​ is so many dambd​ damned​ sharpers now a days im​ I'm​ a little fraid​ afraid​ to trust them all by them selves Please go and see them tell them I sent you to see how they ware​ were​ gitting​ getting​ along I am alarmed about them some.

Well Walt I have write​ written​ a good bit but havent​ haven't​ said much you know my capabilities is limited

do write soon and tell me all the Public and Privit​ private​ news tell Mrs Siter to write to me [no handwritten text supplied here] And Emmie Pickens and Sallie [no handwritten text supplied here] Be carfull​ careful​ and dont let my adress​ address​ be known or less I will be trubled​ troubled​ to death.

Walt I hope you will get well and be all right when I come home that wont be for some time if I prosper Here But not more than two or three years.

you tould​ told​ me to write you a long and carful​ careful​ letter. I cant I havent​ haven't​ got the potations But I will write again soon as I Hear from you,

yours until death Jos: C. Baldwin

[P.S.] you did not say any thing about Sam Hadford. please tell about him