
          Buffalo, Dec. 30, 1868.

My dear & revered friend:

I do wish you
and yours, & particularly your
precious pearl, a happy, very
happy New Year.

As for me, I am in dumpibus.
Much bother in big & small ways
confuse me. I have not got the
spunk of a magnanimous mouse.

In a few days, the last of my
three girls will leave us. My four
boys are scattered widely. Hymen
knocks from under us our last
prop. We console ourselves by
saying, I & my rib [added: to each other], then you'll
be my only incumbrance. And
so we'll hug, & then go down the
hill together, arm in arm.

        