21 Letter Lawrence, June 29, [ ]56 Dear Parents,

I received, a day or two since, your letters of various dates about June fifteenth, and one or two things in them I wish to address. First, I think that Mr. Webster had better have send that money that was raised in Hopkinton directly to me. I have spent about $150 in cash for the good of Kansas, beside a good deal of time. To be sure I have got scrip for the money expended, but such folks as myself and those that need it most, have never received hardly any money sent here for our relief. Most of it gets into the hands of big men, and those who need it suffer for it and don’t get it. My one hundred and fifty dollars I don’t now ever expect to get, unless it is raised at the East and sent directly to me. Mr Stowell has not arrived yet, and I somewhat fear he will not get through. If Hopkinton folks send any more money here, I hope they will send it to me, and I will see it is appropriated to those who actually need it for there are many such here.

The $10 which you sent, came safely and was just in season. It enabled me to pay $2.75 for a bush[el] of potatoes and some other small bills that I owed. Ten more will be very acceptable; after which I shall be able to get along. I am very much obliged to Mother for her kindness in offering to send me what is given to her, and I hope it will be in my power to do ten times as much for her benefit. I have quite a garden on my claim and it looks pretty well now. Our patch of corn does not look very well, the seed at first did not come up, and we have planted it over the last week, and hope it will be better. I expect to begin tomorrow to work for Mr. Savage, help him put in some wheat. I shall have an acre of wheat for a months work; he boards me and I have to harvest it if the ruffians allow me. I may work on those terms for two or three months perhaps and may put some wheat on my own claim. I should certainly if I was sure of getting the claim, but I may yet lose it, so I don’t want to put too much expense into it. The Fourth is close by, it will be an era in the history of Kansas I expect. What will happen I cannot tell. I hope for the best, but fear for the consequences of what may be done. I want to go to Topeka myself but don’t know as I can.

If you have a chance [to] buy or at least get to read, Mrs. Ropes’ book entitled , which I learn has been lately published in Boston. I was acquainted with her some, and think her book would be interesting though I have not read it.

I am in a great hurry and I presume I shall not write half what I want to. Your letters were not numbered, and so I can’t tell whether I get all or not. I keep a regular account of the number and date of all I write and all I rec. I shall probably have much more to write after the Fourth. I think we are on the verge of a civil war, and I am glad that we are, for the North needs something to wake them up once, and if Kansas is lost to freedom, the North are to blame, and no one else. We have done what we could and are about used up, without we have help. I am glad to learn of the nomination of Fremont and I wish I could vote for him.

You must excuse looks and everything else. When you are in the position that I am you will appreciate the need of excuse. Please tell Appleton the news from this letter for I cannot write to him. It is very warm here yet we have a good breeze most of the time.

Your affectionate son, Edward

[ ] I received a letter from Wood threatening to sue that note of 300.00. How shall I avoid it? What is the way of putting property out of a person’s hands? Is there any way that he, in Ohio, can sue me here without taking territorial law!