My dear Fanny

     Many unexpressed good wishes have been sped you sister mine, and mail after mail I have purposed writing you but some how or other the intent has not attained to realization, but at last I am fairly pen in hand and surely this time I may hope to complete my wish
     Firstly I must congratulate you on the birth of your son [i.e., Joseph Warren Rogers, b. 29 August 1861] may he grow up to be a comfort and an honor to you Annie writes me that he is called after his father — I suppose the little man is the most important member of the household and puts my niece Fanny [i.e., Frances Rogers, b. c1859] in the shade — However I judge

there will be heart room for both or more. Kiss both the chicks for me dear Fan & as Fanny the less must soon begin to understand a little of what she hears, you must tell her about her far away uncle —
     Your last letter dear sis was written from Niagara and gave me a very full as well as interesting account of your journey — I most especially liked that bit about Nina and her rosettes worn in despite of the news from Manasas and the Southern feeling at the Falls —
     I learned with pleasure of Robert's decision to join the army. I think he has acted wisely & well, and will maKe a good officer he has the right sort of

feeling about his duties & I am sure will try to perform them — God bless the dear boy the last mail brought me a noble letter from him full of earnest patriotic life —
     Oh, we wait so eagerly for news and yet so far almost all the news have been bad between treason on one side and incompetency on the other the good ship of state is indeed in sore peril. Still I can but hope that all this will pass away and that thru' this discipline of fire our nation may come out purified that our citizens may become awake to the responsibility which falls upon each man individually for the proper performance of his share of public duty — and that all

men & women may live a more godly, less selfish life, than that which has hitherto satisfied so many — If we each and all thought more of doing our duty, and the work which is at our hands, and less about our souls (which God will care for) I think things would go better —
     But enough of my preachment. I must tell you a little about this queer Indian village in which we are located, and which by the bye we leave tomorrow. We are living in a regular nipa hut, it has a board floor but the sides & roof are of thatch and as there are no ceilings we can look up to the rafters and admire the skill with which they are tied together —

Manila Jan^y 7th

Cheated again, but my letter must go in its incomplete state — Mail goes out tomorrow and no news yet from home With loving wishes to you & yours dear Fanny I am as ever Your affe^c brother

Ogden E. Edwards