ChicagoNov 11th 62My Dear Wife Maria

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It is but Two days since I last wrote you but asI have nothing else to do but read and write and take care of myself I might as well write often and keep you posted as to my progress We have had splendid weather for 3 or 4 days past and I have been out doors quite often but today is a wet, windy, cloudy, disagreeable day and I am obliged to stay in the house and content myself as best I can. I have written to Mercie and Elisha and Lieut Jewett and now though last not least I am writting to you the dearest one on earth to me as of course you knew before I said so.

I tell you Maria these long days here where I am by myself alone the greater part of the time I have a great chance to think of home and evry thing connected with it and never in my life have I realized before what a so forcibly what a good place home is and what a kind and loving wife I have got and it seems as though I must have been almost miserable heretofore in not realizing fully these facts but we never know how much we are blessed till we are deprived of those blessings, but in future if we are permitted to again be united in our little home I think I will be better prepared than heretofore to appreciate your worth and the benefits of a peaceful and quiet home and therefore be to you a more

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kind and affectionate husband and to our dear little ones a better instructor and a better Father, and though this war and being deprived of good society may blunt the sensibilities out finer feelings of some it will open the eyes of others and this prove beneficial to some, and detrimental to others. As I gain in strength my appetite increases and I can hardly satisfy myself and in fact I have to be carefull or I am to free with the tempting stuff and get down too much. I look forward to meal times with a great deal of interest and I think over what I would have if I was at home, and the first thing that comes into my mind are those good pumpkin pies and it seems as though I would give a dollar for one piece Cant

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you send me one in a letter. but I must not think so much of my living. The girls here are very busy making vests and to day have taken their [] to make 6 and I tell you they work like good fellows while the old Lady is at work getting dinner but it seems as though she was rather slow about it after having such an early breakfast and my stomache begins to say hurry up. I cant say yet whether or not I can go to Vermont but will in the course of a week if I dont get sick again and dont fear that much. I hope to see the doctor and get his cer- tificate in a day or two. Hoping this will find you in the enjoyment of good health I remain your

Aff HusVal G. B-

You had better burn this immedi- atley after reading it.
Val