71-12-05 Boone Co MO Dec 5 1871 Mr. A & Mrs. E. Damrell from W.H. Powell Dear Grandfather & mother. I have delayed writing so long since I received yours that I am almost ashamed to write at all. But it was not because I did not intend to write but because I had in part neglected it and in part my business has kept me from home a good part of this fall. We at present are enjoying good health but have been afflicted some with the chills this fall. I hope when these lines come to hand may find you enjoying as good health as could be expected taking your age in consideration. I know it cannot be expected that you will ever enjoy health as you have done But you have been blessed with the privilege of living to a ripe old age. May the giver of all things give you strength to bear your afflictions with patience looking forward in hope of the life to come wich will be far better. If we were permitted to live to the age of Mathuselah it would only be momentary in comprison to eternity. What a glorious thing is faith wich produces hope enabling us to look forward within the vale. As the glrious apostle Paul says if we have hope in this life only we would of all men be the most miserable. I desire in this letter to tell you some of my religious felings as we never got to talk any on that subject when I was there. I have been made to wonder often that I have eve ben made to fell any sence of my condition when thinking what a great sinner I have been. I feel that in me there is no righteousness and the only hope I have is in the righteousness of Christ. Prehaps you may want to know what church I belong I belong to the O. S. Baptist. You may think it strange that I would have left the Methodists and gone to the Old Baptist but I thougt I saw a great many errors in that doctrine And the more I read Gods word & feel experimntally the more I see those errors. I am not telling you this for any controversy with any one but that you may know how I stand religiously. I have not time nor space to give reasons so I will leave this subject. You named something in your letter about not asking me to write when I was there but that did not make any diferance with me for I have intended to write to you but have put it off from time to time because of negligence more than any thing else. All of the relatives so far as I know are well. Bascom was here a week ago from Andrgin & told me all was well over there. Sister Mary lost one of her little girls this fall. She was about two years old. Anna has two children a boy & Girl. we have three our youngest is a boy about six months old. the two oldest are girls. I will give you their names. the oldest Luella, the next Annie Lee, the boy Albert Newton. Our children are generally very healthy and stout. Brother Jame is in Texas. went there last spring. I have not gotten a letter from him for some time. he was well when he wrote last. I calculate to start to that country about the first of Feb. It is getting nearly bed time and I must close. Give my love to all and except a portion for your selves. Write soon & I will try to do better next time. From your affictionate Grandson & family W. H. Powell Columbia Mo.