Dear Brother:-- I have not had a letter from you since the 27th of Feb. and I am at a loss to conjecture the cause of it. It is true that for some time past my letters have been devoid of interest to you and would not have been sent at all but that I conceived it a duty to let you know how we were getting along and my mind was so tortured by our domestic troubles that I could not get my thoughts together sufficiently to write a letter interesting to any one. I inquired of Mr Jacob Shrock about that letter and he told me that he had received a letter from you containing the amount of your indebtedness to him one dollar and

seventy five cents. And as to that local bounty. I wrote to you some time ago about it and how to get it and also that I would collect it for you if you would send me an order and send it to you or invest it in Government bonds of whatever kind you may select and will hand the money to anyone you may wish to have it. If you get any of the Cincinnati papers down there you will learn all about the bonds, except the goldbearing bonds and they cost $11 premium on the $100 while the others are sold at par. There is no tax on these bonds and it is the only way that money can be invested to pay any interest. Greenbacks are so plenty. Jack has been in our city all the past week, Mrs Wyrick has moved to Newreading

for the present. Molly Beckwith is at our house and has been for the past week and will stay another week at least. The Somerset folks are all well. We are all as well as could be expected under the circumstances but Granny. She fell into the cellar door a few days ago and hurt herself pretty badly, but I guess that she will come out all right. We had a very hard rain last week and the creeks got quite high. The weather is cool, but the grass is growing beautifully the fruit trees are budding forth and will soon be in full bloom Work is plenty and few men to do it. Old Mr Sheets has bought the old house and ground that Wyricks lived on. Bill Foglemive has rented his house and moved up town to keep a beer saloon

Court is in session now and old Scratchman was tried for the murder of Ide and convicted of manslaughter but had a new trial granted him. To Morrow is the spring election day but there is hardly a word said about it Joe Griffith is running against Dill Brooks for Marshall. I do not know who are candidates for the offices. Old Norton is entirely broke up and has moved to Dogtown and Mr Austin, that married Rose, has gone home to Connecticut. House and his wife had a big fight last evening and Walla threw a tumbler at his dad and cut his nose awfully -- trial tomorrow. Your gal was down today and her and Molly and Kate and Beck Smith went out to the Cemetery after which they adjourned to their respective homes. But I guess I have done damage enough to this sheet of paper. So I will close. So wishing you long life and happiness in all your undertakings, I am yours James