Letter 52 — February 20, 1876
“The pretty colt is mine now, Pa gave him to me, he is not as gentle as the one was for he will bite me”
You will no doubt think I am a long time answering your letter, yet hope you will pardon this time and I will endeavor to do better in the future. This letter leaves us all well and hope when you receive it will find you enjoying good health. We are having such a nice winter, except rain. There has been a good deal of that. I have not been to school for two weeks, it is out next week. I have not seen Mary to hear how she liked her trip to Cincinnati. Horace was up not long ago and staid from Sunday to Thursday. The pretty colt is mine now, Pa gave him to me, he is not as gentle as the one was for he will bite me if I don't watch him. Pa bought a nice big mare at a sale and she died Christmas night with the lockjaw, she run a piece of weed in her foot. We heard Mr Arbogast is very sick, Lon said he was better Saturday morning. It is reported here there is two cases of smallpox in Springfield and two in Lagonda. I guess I have written all the news for this time.