Bridgeport O T. Feb 8th 1854

Dear brother and sister

I have waited a long time very impatient for a letter from you but have
come to the conclusion we never shall. so I will write a few lions to let
you know we still exist among the living we are all well except Berryman
he has a sore throat they has bine a good menny children dyed this winter
with a sore throat they is a great deal more sickness here than expected to
find I have heard of a good menny Deaths since we got in the vally our
children has been some healthier than usual my health is some better but
grieve so much about you all and my native land I cannot gain very fast I
cannot tell you much about the rest of the folks they was all well the last I
heard except Lissy she has had the rheumatis very bad two or three weeks
but she is better they are at Fathers as usial and have bin for some time
John I would like to see you very much it would do my very soul good to
see you all and talk with you I could talk so much better than I can write
the children talk a great deal about you all and contrive a great menny
ways to git to go back Lavina you must write to them often they are very
lonesome they have no associates here little Mary can talk so plain and
sweete she implys some their time I wish you could hear her say Uncle
Johnny aunt Matilda and tell me to git a chair and give her tilly tell Mary
if she could see her she would be willing to own the name. You said John
Crawford wife and Nancy Lomat had gone to Kentucky on a visit I want
you to write me the particulars about their visit write all about the Knox
folks and evrybody els I want you to write all about my old home I want
to know evry little improvement they have made I wont to know where
the clock stands cupboard and so on I shall not tell you everything about
the winter I will leave that for Mr. Smith as he likes OT better than I do he
will give the trouth we went to Lides a few weeks ago they was all well and
Miss Haley said I must send her respects to you she likes O very much
Sarah is at Portland they tore the blanket as they come to O and she does
not live at home nor Monroe. Eliza I will tell you what I have bin a driveing
at this winter I have cut and made the boys a coat I had to rip up Wrights
cotten coat and cut all by it evry body has to be their own Tailor here I have
made six pair of pants five aprons five sheets three bed frills two white ones
and one calico one dress pillow slips and table cloths I have a great deal of
sewing to do yet I went to the store the other day and bought nine yards of
colico a pair of stockings for Mary one paper of pins with four dozen eggs
butter is five bits a pound socks one dollar a pair Tilda I would like to
know what you are about that you cannot write the next time I see you I will
pull your ears good tell Mary & Jimmy I want to see them as bad as I can
tell them them to write often and kiss little Teldon for me give my love to all
of my old neighbors especially Betty Lucas and Ellin and Ann P. the mail
goys out today so I must come to a close write soon and often so good by
John Eliza and Matilda

Margaret B. Smith
*Addition to Letter*
Wright sends his love to the children he sais he wants to see them all as he
cannot he will send Erastus a present poor little Berryman talks about Ills
all the time and wants to go back to Uncle Johns. Flora has grun a great
deal I wish I had time to write a dozen letters as you cannot write enny I
would give you some to read the Boys has to start to the office so I must quit

Margaret B. Smith

[Addition to Margaret Smith's Letter]
Bridge Port, Feb. 8th 1854

Dear Aunt Matilda

I would like to see you all the rest very much we are very lonesome hear
hear we do not get to go to Uncle Johns or to school now we have a little
calf and six little pigs Pap bought two sheep and one of them had a lamb
and it froze to I wish I was there I would give you a good scolding for not
writing I want you to write evry few weeks and tell us all of the news I want
you to write about Tom and Towser. we have a little dog its name is trip.
Lavina I want you to write all about my old school mates how much they
have learnt I want to know what Erastus and Grandville and little Isaac
imploys themselves about since we come away I often wish I was there
to play with them but we are along long ways over hills and Mountains
from you Pap is amaking stakes to stake the orchard he has made two
bedsteds and painted them with alder bark I made a yard gate the other
day out of a fur rail I wish you could see little Mary she is the sweetes little
girl in Oregon and I think the smartest good by

Rufus M. Smith
1854