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The reduction in issue of rations has been in even larger ratio than the reduction in number of people, no member of any save a soldier's family, since the Spring of 1865 having been allowed rations when work could be found to do suited to his or her ability and when the condition of the family was such that they could be spared from attendance on others.  

The destitute remaining are not in a proper state as regards under and bed clothing, notwithstanding repeated efforts to procure a decent supply for the old, crippled and very young.  The young children of large families are particularly in need for even when the mother is able to do some out door work the insufficient quantity and often bad quality of the rations issued compels her to buy food, not clothing.  The deaths for some months past have however been few - no cases of Small Pox on the farm.

Generally the condition of those who have gone out among citizens to labor is satisfactory in a maternal point of view, but I must except the many who deluded by the idea that they could prosper only living by themselves have rented uncleared ground and expended thereon more labor than the land is worth, with only poor assurance of peaceable occupation beyond the present year.  These people are many half-