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[[circled]] 7 [[/circled]] 

[[strikethrough]] Dec. [[/strikethrough]] Jan. 18/27

Dear Stummy,

Its a dickens of a thought but here we are headed South again and I want to head north. My notes will give you much miserable news as there is.

I'm just about fed up in the trip and ready to quit any time now. I am really at loss for words, I'd like to write you a few sweet nothings but ever since you wrote me that sometimes the letters are delayed and even opened in Baltimore or some place or other I haven't had the heart to put much of my what would you call it, "soul"? in even these personal notes. I've tried sealing them in [[strikethrough]] personal [[/strikethrough]] special little envelopes marked personal. How did that ever work if at all.

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I'm about heart broken that I missed the letter which surely was aboard that Grace steamer that got in the day this one left Valparaiso, I suppose now it will