Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Children, January 30, 1863

In this letter from January 30, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his young daughters, Anne and Mary, in response to a letter they penned to him. He encourages them to write to him on their own as often as they can, and tells them how much he wishes he could "travel as fast as my thougts [sic] " and come home to them.

Burlington
30th January 1863.

My Dear Children Anne & Mary,

You don't know how happy I was when your kind letter was brought to me from the post office. Always write to me when you have an opertunity [sic] . And I hope you will learn something evry [sic] day so that you can write your own letters to me. And read mine. For I may sometimes want to write you something that you would not like to have others read, but if you can't read then you will have to get some one [sic] to read them for you. Lilley Ainsworth writes a very pretty letter nearly evry [sic] week, to her papa, & does it all herself. But she is older and larger than you are and of course ought to write better than you can.

Last Sunday when I went to church away up on the hill I could sea [sic] a great ways over the river int [sic] Illinois and wished that I could travel as fast as my thougts [sic] how quick I could have been home.

I shall expect a letter from you very soon in answer to this. Good night my dear children.

Samuel B. Reed