“Em and I want you to get yourself a far of good, heavy calfskin shoes and more them this winter. Remember what I tell you. You know how you grunt and if you don’t care, you will be sick this winter. Wear them all winter. Think I will stay here this winter. If I live, would like to see you all…. …” Moll Bauer ca 1863
October 23 [ca 1863/64]
Napoleon
Dear Sister–
You thought that I ought to write whether you wrote or not. I received your letter last Thursday. When H. came home he said you had wrote. Could not think why you did not write. Told Lib, you must all be sick—was sorry to hear about John and Hize was sick. Hope you all will have your health when. But when ever any of you want me to come and take care of you, come after me, and I will go with you. We are all well, but Lib. She has been sick for two weeks. Had the Doctor the night before. We come home wasn’t able to set up the day we got home and haven’t sat up since till today. Think she will get along now.
Have all the word to do myself. You better think it keeps me on the go from morning till night. We had company today—Zera Plumer and Mr. Miller and wife. Wish you were here. Think I could find plenty of work for you to do. We have got the sistern done. Are ready for the rain to come. We went to the fair. Wasn’t worth nothing—the poorest fair I ever tended
in my life. Had some things that was very nice but very few of them.
Suppose John and Lisi thinks they are some since they have bought that far. Wish I was there…. John, he thought our land wasn’t worth $75—then he pays $85. Think he could have done better if he had waited awhile longer. Was surprised when I heard of so many deaths in and round there. Want you and the rest of you to take good care of yourself and not expose yourself more than you can help. Em and I want you to get yourself a far of good, heavy calfskin shoes and more them this winter. Remember what I tell you. You know how you grunt and if you don’t care, you will be sick this winter. Wear them all winter. Think I will stay here this winter. If I live, would like to see you all….
Want you to sell that lard before it gets so late. Want you to write and tell me about them notes. All are under one hundred dollars. Needs no stamps… Would like if you had sent my whit shirt for I may need it. Have none to wear—don’t know what might happen. We may die as well as our neighbors. There is some sickness around here. The flue has been in Napoleon and a good many deaths and some typhoid fever…. Want you to have their graves fixed as we talked about. Go yourself and see them. Lisi will go with you—don’t neglect it and take care of the flowers and take something this fall and cover the roses so it won’t freeze. Take dead grass or leaves and put around it and cover it up. Would like to be there myself. Would like to see the monument….
Will stop writing for this time. It is 11 o’clock. Must go to bed for we have been sitting up for a week and have not caught up yet.
Write soon and tell all…Love to you all…Moll Bauer