Walnut Cabin June 8th 1855 , AugustaMy Dear

May 12th I am sorry after so long delay that I have no more time for writing. Your very welcome letter written was only taken from the office yesterday and was perused with the usual avidity. after reading I could but lift my heart in gratitude for your Providential deliverance when death seemed so very near and almost unavoidable. How well it was that your mother got out of the wagon. Now I only wish that you had been out here where side hills and stumps are more rare, and where you might have reigned him out before the broad prairie and let him run to his heart’s content only now and then applying the lash. I am sure that when he stopped you would have crowned him with a wreath of flowers for giving you so fine a ride.

By the way, you could have collected a more beautiful bouquet upon the prairies here containing as great a variety of delicate beautiful as in a great many of the gardens. The blue eyed Mary is a native here and now in bloom, so is the dalia, but has not such a variety of hues as the exotics, so also the white and blue larkspur with several others, quite common in the gardens there. I have seen no violets. Will they spring from the seed? But the most beautiful of all now is a most fragrant little red rose found in abundance all over the prairies.

Dr[.] Stills TopekaI am sorry to say that my garden will not probably amount to much this year. I have been obliged to be absent so much. I planted quite a quantity of seeds and they have come up finely but I was unable to secure them with a suitable fence in time and as I have been obliged to be away so much, 100 cattle that herd the prairie here have nearly destroyed all prospects[,] and the probability is that shall dispose of the claim for what I can get and take up one near . I am afraid this one is on such bottom land that it may prove unhealthy and I have managed to secure one there that I like far better.—

Br[.] Giddings Kansas June JulyWith your letter came one from stating his intention of coming out to either in or , and if he likes[,] to stick his stake somewhere.

KansasYou speak of the dreadful things you read about , and you are by no means the only one that seems to apprehend great difficulties in the settlement of the territory, but the excitement now is all out in the states. It was only here during one day, at which time our rights were disregarded by a gang of drunken worthless villains[,] after which all has been as quiet at the cabin of a summer’s evening, almost as free from disturbance as in any home in the states[.]

MissouriThe result has been to bring among us a large increase of emigration, and now we are or will soon be so strong that a repetition of such an outrage will not dare to be tried. Besides[,] the more respectable portion of frown upon such an invasion and by no means countenance such conduct.

Emily Henry Thursday last Velma James WednesdayI could not but exclaim with you “poor ” when I read of her sad affliction. Such a loss at such a time under such circumstances must tend to throw a dark and gloomy shadow over the bright anticipations that lit up her future. Surely it must be crushing to a loving heart to be this early clothed in the garb of widowhood. Was she a professing Christian? I left ’s on . is yet quite unwell, and I am afraid will never recover. The rest are quiet well. I assisted on and we ploughed and planted an acre and a half of corn. he appears quite well, his locust seed have come up in rich abundance, he begins to like it quite well[.]

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Stephen James Jameshe had just received a letter from home in which was enclosed one from . thought much of it. Please encourage him to write and will write in return[,] which will do both so much good.

Lawrence TopekaWhen I told you it would be probably better to send his letters to I was not aware that he would be as sure of them at but it seems those you directed there came soon and safe, and it probably would be better to send all there.

Fort Riley Elder Goode the 24th of AugustI have just returned from a third trip to , went with my beloved , had quite a pleasant time. Says he will release me from the duties of the circuit about if I will consent to go east begging for two churches we are trying to build here. I never practiced the art much and do not know how I shall succeed but as it is for a good cause believe I shall try to do that.

You must not be surprised if you find

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September Bro. Dennisme home the 1st or 2nd week in [,] and if I have good luck in my engagement, can make quite a visit. I would be glad to raise a thousand dollars. If contributions are small and success poor, can stay but a short time, must keep busy. Think you will know me. doubtful. I shall be to much like a Mexican in color, too much like a rag picker in appearance and too much like a Jonathan in manners.— but will agree to tell you who I am if you do not— I know not how long it will take to rub off the boorishness acquired by a years life on the frontier, but hope that a visit out where there are houses and beds to sleep on, where they eat on tables instead of trunks, sit on chairs rather than stools and have more than one room in the house-will do me good. I am expecting a [colaboree?] with me in the person of , which will lessen my work

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somewhat but will send me out into new neighborhoods to organize classes and make appointments.

Fort RileyA minister has been stationed at , so that it will not be necessary for me to go up there again—

How much I miss a permanent house, and a good library, hope I may have both ere long. My kind regards to all at home, your parents, brothers, sisters, as well as to all our folks.

JamesThe weather is delightful and fine and stirring. Crops as far as cultivated appear well. sod cabin was caving in when I was there so that he had to go in almost on all fours. I took dinner with him. His rice pudding, codfish and coffee was all quite good. I never saw him look more healthy. He has a log cabin partly built, but hurried about other work, and you know where one is obliged to be boss and all hands, do all the work indoors and out. He can not turn the world over in a day[.]

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Nancy Henry has times of being quite homesick, then again quite contented. I suppose would be much more so if her children were healthy. But likes the country very much, and could not be easily hired to go back—

James Lawrence thinks certainly of staying one year if not two, until he can preempt and then rent his farm to some one. Tell your folks to be careful how they write to him and write nothing that will cause him to want to come home, unless they really should want him and then it would be best to say so directly—but I must close—you will think paper scare here, but I forgot to get some at , and borrowed two sheets[,] and as I wish to write three or four letters, must divide[.]

Please excuse and believe me ever your own James

[ ] I had just seen a snake and frog that were found in digging a well[.] they were embedded in soapstone 10 feet below the ground and were alive and kickin[.]