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Carlisle, Penna. Febr. 10th 1864[5]
My Dear Wife

I came to Mother’s yesterday afternoon & stayed until evening. Charlie was down at the Pagues’, but she was expecting him home so I went back to Harry’s & with Jennie to church.¹ There was a concert in town, and the church was quite full and the meeting quite interesting.

There were about 15 or 18 forward for prayers and the interest seems to be general.

I remained all night at Harry’s & came out to Mother’s this morning. Gustie & Charlie were up this afternoon. All are well.

I saw Mrs. Caldwell this morning, and she inquired very kindly about you.² To-morrow morning I shall go to Millers³ on business & to Pagues in the afternoon & come back to Mother’s Sunday morn [the 14th].

Bro. Harry [Cheston] is to preach to-night. I wish you could be here to hear him. Mother & I will go in.

Hannah is with Jennie but will be home to-morrow. Bro. Charlie has left College. His guardian says he will have no more money until Spring, but it is only an excuse, I think, as he has been urging him to stop for several months. Charlie has an idea of going to a Commercial College in the spring & intends to go to Illinois with Mother & Hannah if I get back in the fall. I want you to tell me candidly, are you anxious or willing to have them live with us? I never thought much about it, as I did not think they would come, but they seem so confident now that I wish to know your desires. Do not hesitate to tell me.

[The] Pagues have [their] sale on the 6th March.⁴ If I could remain a few days longer, I would like to see the place he has purchased, but I must hasten to the Regt.

The sleigh bells are ringing in every direction, & the sleighing is excellent. I have been feasting on Mother’s large apples. I wish I could send you one. I shall look anxiously for a letter to-morrow. Remember me in love to all. Kiss Howard for Papa. Marvin can walk quite well & say a number of words. The snow is so deep that I will not go to Frankie’s grave though I would like very much to have seen it. Write often. I want to receive letters soon after I reach the Regt.

May God bless & make you happy. Good Bye.

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. Eighteen-year-old Charlie Culver was J.F.C.’s youngest brother, while his sister, Rebecca, was married to S. Augustus Pague and lived on the family farm in Middlesex Township. [↩]
2. For biographical data on Mrs. Caldwell, see J.F.C.’s letter of September 14, 1863. [↩]
3. John Miller, a prosperous Middlesex Township farmer, was married to J.F.C.’s half sister, Lucetta. In 1860 the Millers were living with their six children, four boys and two girls. Eighth Census, Cumberland County, State of Pennsylvania, NA. [↩]
4. To settle the estate of J.F.C.’s father, it was necessary to sell the family farm on which the Pagues were living. [↩]