#19 (undated)
My dearest wife, As Witter is going home I can't help writing you a little note; although I wrote you a letter in today's mail. Your letter was received with unspeakable delight today. But the news of your father's illness almost balanced the good news of your better feelings. But dearest wife you don't know how glad I was to hear that you were better. Please dear Louly take good care of your dear self for me
and don't make yourself sick again. Get Dr. Burroughs to prescribe for you if you are feeling badly. Please call or send word to Mr. Isaac Lang to tell Miles Drury to send down to White Oak for that piece of bagging (cotton bagging) and when you write me please say how many yards is in the piece so the Captain can pay me for it. You can find out by asking Pa, he knows. I send you by Witter one hundred and seventy-five dollars that is what I have saved over my two months' pay. So you see I have been living very saving. If you have need of the seventy-five dollars you must keep it and if you don't want that much you must keep as much of it as you want and give the rest to Pa. I wish you would pay Jennie for the lard. Now dearest don't forget to attend to the cotton bagging. You must excuse this short letter as it is now very late and Witter is in a hurry to go. Goodbye dearest may Heaven's sweet blessing be with you is the fond desire of your devoted
Nate.
$5 to Mrs. Harrison for lard. At 20 cents per lb. it will come to $5, for 25 lb.