Mother You wanted to know whether I had a bible

July 24th  [18]64
Mother you wanted to know whether I had a bible or testiment or eny Christian friend.  Well I have a testiment and that is all the reading that I have but I can get a bible to read when I do not wanto [want to] read in the new testiment[,] and I have one Christian friend[,] the old man Mr Southworth that took cair of me when I was sick at washington and he has ben a friend to me ever since and whene I have ben sick he has done all he could for me[.]  he wanted that I should tell you how that they lost two little boys some sevrell years ago[,] he seys the oldest was 10 years old and they went out a bering [?] and both wer drounded and they had a greait hunt for them[.] they both fell into a mill pond and he says that their mother thought she could never give them up but she was reconciled at last.
J. R. S.
Tell Aut that he must write to me and tell me how he gets along haying and all about the farming and how he likes my colt to work and all the news about the young folks.  I want you should tell me how meny of dars letters I have sent home and wheat date for I though[t] I had kep them all but I canot find eny now for I was agoing to send them home. J.R.S.