Bridgeport Oregon Ty Septembe 6th 1857
Dear Brother & Sisters
I addrefs you a fiew lines to inform you that you are still rememberd
though thare are many miles betwen us I make it a practice to think
back freqently I hope I shall never become so unmindful of dear frinds
as to forget them under any sicumstances all though we are carlefs
about writing it is not for the want of affection procrastination may have
its part in the mater but it is generaly for the want of somthing that I think
wold interest you. these lines leaves us as well as usal Margaret has bin
complaining for some time with her old complaint. She has bin taking
medisin from a botanic Doctor she thinks he has hope her some. her and
the children except Rufus and Wright has gone down to Isaacs to see her
Moher. Beryman drove and John careyed the whip & hollowed wo, for
them. he is cuting teeth at this time it makes him somwhat crofs. he is a
perty fine looking boy if you will believe what we have to say about it.
the reson that I did not go with them I had a severe tooth ache it is the first
time I have had it since I have bin in Oregon and hope it is the last thare
is
as much comferet in it as thare is in ware pestilence & famine you will
probable come to the just conclusion that I was anxious to write. I feell
some what relieved to day though my tooth thretens to make me qit
occasionaly. The connexion are all well as fair as I know except Elijah I
understood he was complaining I do not know whether it is anything
serious or not. I recived a letter from Matilda last Mail I was glad to
heare that you was all well and doing well but sory to heare of your
backward Spring and poor prospect for crops. She thought she wold
make me feel bad in coseqence of Meginnes haveing plenty of Aples to
eat. I feel as independant as a hog on ice about aples we have about 30
bushels on trees that I have set out since I came heare we have had ripe
ones for the last five or six weeks we also have five or six peach trees full
of peaches now begining to get ripe we have had a fiew pears and had a
fiew chereys and plums. we have a almond tree full of almonds but I must
stop this or you will think I am boaisting. we have had an unusal dry season
heare it has not rained of any conseqence since the firt of May crops are
qite light though thare are plenty and to spare I have raised plenty and
probable more. I have bin princile engaged this Summer in hauling rails to
fence me in a large pasture the country is becoming over stocked and them
that wants grafs will have to fence thare land and a most every person that
can is at it. the grafs heare is a gret portion of the wealth of the country
and
with out it we wold be as bad off as the people of Ireland with out potatoes.
the people heare have decided to form a state constitution our deligates is
in
session now. thay get along very slow, but I have hope thay will do it up
right before thay git. thare is considerable excitment on the slavery qestion
it
is to be decided in Oct by a direct vote of the people the country heare ar
nearly alive with Misouriens and thay nearly all are in favor of a Slave State
but we calculate to beat them on the day of the election easy if we do not I
may hunt a free teritory for I should not lik to live amogst slavery again,
but
I do not apprehend any danger. Hutchenson has just got back from the
Umpqa, he took his family last spring and went out thare to correct some
surveying that Armstrong done he calculated when he started that he
could do it in two or three weeks but it took him about three months it will
be a loosing buisnefs to him or Armstrong one I do not know which. The
children has bin going to school this Summer the schoo was out last friday
thay are all growin verry fast and learn well when thay have the chance our
last techer says Rufus is geting a very crrect knoweledge of Grammer &
Algebra he has bin through Daves Rethmetic several times. write to often
and let me know how all the conesion & friends get a long. No more at
presen but remains your Brother & Sister until death
Isaac & Margaret Smith
Payment
