Milton Nichols to Mother

              Rumney Jan the 1 1862   Dear Mother    I sit myself this morning to let you know that i am well at this time and do hope that when those few lines comes to hand they may find you all well and in fine spirits Cap J R Beley brought no news from home to me i did not know whether you had forgotten me or not and i thot i would rite to you  to know whether you had or not and if not i want to hear from you as often as possible and let me know how you are getting along  Kind Mother i heard that the smallpocks were in town and that the streets were blocked and if that is true i want to know it and rite to me how Arnolda and Pet is if they are dead or alive i do not know i think that  brother Jackson is myty buisey or dose not think enough of me to rite and if this is  true that none of you think enough of me to rite to me there i nothing to attract  my mind toward home any more and i am Just as  i was forsaken by everybody you was all Keen to see me start and now i am gone and you are all  staisfide John Nichols gets letters every week and none of even sends any thing in his letters to me and i would like to know what  I have done that you cannot rite to me   I want you all to rite to me as soon as possible  That is if you want to and if you do not you need not   Rite  No more at this time    Milton Nichols to     Sarah Nichols