Manhattan Aug 28th 1859
My Dear Husband,
Yours from the Vinyard Camp meeting has been received, and believe one before it with one land warrant of 120 acres, about that time one 160 acre we have been waiting for Josephs return, which was three or four days since. He has had a very pleasant and profitable time. Mrs D. concludes to graduate at Baldwin, and enter BlueMont Collage in November. So you see I am to be free to keep house for myself in eight or ten weeks. Joseph thinks we all can live in his new house this winter. What do you think? If we do I want to live upstairs, and there is no door into the L. so that we shall have to carry everything around the house up the front stairs. I don’t know what to say about furniture we shall need chairs, table, and Joseph is going to see if he cannot get two bedsteads for eight dollars each. Groceries, and all kinds of eatables for six if D. and Miss Baily come. Sister Dennis has a cookstove and furniture and Joseph thought some of asking you to get a large

Page 2

nice parlor stove and making an exchange some how for the present. Sister D’s little girl is about the age of Hatty. Etta has gone to Mr William’s to board again, they would not board her [Ks?]. Have taken the new Baptist minister to board. I have been over to Br Paulsons this afternoon and he had just got over a chill and she had been down with a bad cold since Wednesday. Two men up to Lewises some better. Not very sickly, Mr Nuntress down with a bad cold. Mr Glossup had gone to the river for a load says ask Mr Goodnow if he does not want him to draw a load for him, and write him when to go after it. Thinks you will be sure to have one load Br Paulson regretted that he had not the dimension of that wood work behind our pulpit to send to you to have you get paper to paper the place so as to represent a recess. We thought that would look better than a representation of frescoeing or drapery. I hope if you do not recollect I can get the dimentions to you in time. If you want a cushion of plush on the pulpit for the bible you must get the cloth. If Miss Bailey gets her cloth for a riding dress, if she could get one suitable for me at the same time I could sell mine for what I

Page 3

gave for it as faded as it is. I should want one that would not fade say black and white grey or blue black [Lyonese?] or alpaca just as she can trade most reasonable. Dr Robinson is sick with a fever. Several have had the cholera workers. I am delighted to think mother could spare me that carpet and to think David is comeing, and would like to tell them so by writing them, but every hour brings something that I must attend to when I can move. Our damp foggy weather wilts me, and makes me want rest. George is most well again. The rest are about as usual. We need some of your good [xxx] Hope you will eat all kinds for me, and enjoy it with thanksgiving. The house is not ready to move into. Give my best love to Mrs Bateman and all inquireing friends, and accept a large share for yourself
As ever yours, Ellen D. Goodnow