Montrose Lee County My Dear Wilford I sit down this morn. to acknowledge the reception of your letter bearing date of June 3th & after sending many times to the office for a letter the day before yesterday I was persented with a letter from you brought by some of the brethren from Eng. as I learned that 4 family arrived in Commerce the 27 of this Aug. I have not seen any of them or learned any of their names ^yet^ and report says that there are 30 families more in Cincinata Ohio, on their way to Commerce. I was truly glad to hear from you of your health and the prosperity of the work with you—your last letter before this came to hand the middle of June dated April 24 you say you sent me 4 letters since you arrive in Eng. I have received them all and have sent you 6 before this am verry sorry you have not received more of them particularly my Jan. one in that I spare you a more particular acc- -ount of my situation and how things were with and around me and I commenced this morn with a determination to tell you something more but what shall I say I am almost inclined to pass over the past but as if I cannot tell my dear Willford about my troubles who can I tell while those around you me say I dont write anything to make him uneasey but I will give you a brief sketch of the situation of things with me who since you left me. — For 2 week after you left me I ejoyed quite good health then was taken with the fever and ague in a few days I was moved that is my bed and some other things out to brother Smoots where I had ^the best^ attention the house could afford although it had no floor in it or door or window—I was sick with the chills about 3 months and little Sarah was verry sick to for days together I was not able to sit up to have my bed made. I was reduced so low I remained there 8 or 9 weeks and sister Smoot was taken sick my house was not done and it was with the utmost exertion that I could get any thing done to it if sister Taylor had not moved into my room with sister Pratt in Montrose I thought of going there but I did not blame her in the least about it I think she could not help it as she was situated—about the forepart of Nov. they called it done it had no door or window or loft in it the roof verry poorly laid on so that the snow and rain came in verry plentifully the snow would be a number of inches deep and mostly over the floor thus was my house finished when I moved into it and I had the chill and fever then and could not sit up only apart of the time and Sarah was unwell to I had a young girl with me 2 weeks then she left me and then I had to do as I could with little Sarah cow and all I did not sit up all day thong but got much slandered for haveing that girl so long