Bone Letter, December 19, 1861

              Nacogdoches Co Texas Dec 19th 1861
Dear husband I received your letter yesterday evening dated the 12 I was glad to here from you but rather see you. Mr. Murph brought your picture to me. Oh how glad I was to see it. It looks so natural that I like to look at it and kiss it too, but oh if I could see your sweet face how happy I would be. Then I could tell you how well I loved you and kiss those sweet lips and lovely face which I hope will be some future day I want to see you so bad, I think of you often honey, then I wish I was with you so we could talk with one another. I and our little sons are well and hearty; Watson is picking up write smart and grows too. Our little babe grows like a little pig; he has blue eyes and a pretty shaped head and face and nose and mouth like yours I think. Pa says he favors you more than Watson does some say he favors Watson. I think he favors you a little and Watson too. He likes his little brother he says, his buddy and Pa and Ma. Baby I want you to write to me and tell me whether you want me to have a small mattress made or not if you do I can do so, I did not see Mr. Murph so I did not send anything. I wanted to send you a mattress and some towels and some bed clothes, if Mr. Murph had taken a wagon back with him. I came out to Pa’s last Saturday, I came home on Thursday before Maryann and John stayed with me while at home. Pastor Bone is getting well Pa, and Mary and Bud are having the chills but are about to miss them to day. Pa has killed some of his meat;