52-10-22 Littleby, Mo.  Oct 22, 1852 to A & E Damrell from M Powell

Dear Father & Mother
I this knight take my pen in hand to answer your letter though it has been 
some time since we receive your letter but have not had the chance to rite 
until now.  I have nothing of importance to rite more than we are all in 
tolerable good health at this time though Margaret is not very stout yet you 
rote to no what was the matter with her but I dont no whether I can tell or 
not there has been so many things working over her.  Se was taken with a 
vilent cold & sun pain over one eye and     that to the toothache & from one 
thing to another & then toped of with the rheumatism of the worst sort she was 
for sometime that one ancke & foot was as large as two & past walking on. she 
still hops about on it not stout by upwards of a rit smart chance.  We had 
Martha Petennel live with us about 4 month & expect to get her again.  She is 
a verry handy girl about a house.
It was about Chistmas that she was taken with the cold & on the 24(?) January 
she had a son.  He is a verry fine and harty boy.  He can crall all over the 
house & begin to talk.  All the rest of the friends is well as far as I no 
except Lawrences Gustuz.  He has the chills.  I have not heard from Heplers 
for some time.  We have got to fare from them that we dont hear every day from 
them.  I have bought Lawrence out on Littleby.  We moved hear on the last day 
of September & Lawrence has moved to Strahanz place to take care of the 
children till John gets back from California.  Mrs. Strahan is dead.  She died 
with the flucts.  there has been a rite smart chance of sickness hear.  Wash 
Canterberry lost two childen in about one week & sent for the Dr a few days 
ago for himself.  I haven't heard since thoug.   health is generally good at 
this time. times is tolerabe good, property high, craps good & weather fine & 
pleasant & c we live rite close to Elisha.  They was all hear to day.  he is 
getting along verry well.  We have been looking for you down to see us all & 
would like verry well if you or any of the rest of them would take the trouble 
to come down for I dont no when I will ever have the chance to get that fare 
from home again as for the rest of the folks I cant say what they can or will 
do but _________ he did talk of going to look at that country before he bought 
again but I cant tell what he will do.  I will see him at Mexico tomorrow & i 
will not close this till I see him & then I can tell whether he is going up 
there or not. I must close for this time as my pen is getting bad and my hand 
tiered & eyes heavy so nothing more at present but remain yours most sincerely 
until death.  M. Powell
A Damrell  E Damrell  then a bigger fancier initials N B
Give our best wishes to all of the connection & all inquiring friends & excuse 
bad riting & splling as I am in a tremendious hurry to get to sleep so that I 
spell faster than I can rite & by that make some mistakes or omit some words 
so good knight but dont forget to rite if I had lik to forget to tell you to 
rite again.  M P