Letter from Louisa Cook Walters to her sister Emma

Placerville [Idaho]
Dec 9th, 1864

Dear Sister Emma,

Pardon me for neglecting to answer your very welcome letter of Oct 10th, which came to hand nearly two weeks ago. So long, but my time has been so occupied that I have had no leisure for writing. But I know that I must write letters in order to receive letters, and letters from the friends at home are among the greatest pleasures I enjoy in this land of strangers.

I can hardly realize that it is now going on three years since I bid you all goodbye, and yet I think there has been a great change in myself and in my circumstances in that space of time. My health has greatly improved, that hacking cough has left me, and that constant load of heavy wearying pain and heartache has long ago ceased to be felt. My glass shows me that a healthy, rosy color has taken the place of my usual pale, sallow complexion, and I do not think I am boasting when I say I am one of the happiest of women. You may well believe that ten years of sorrow such as mine has well prepared me to enjoy happiness when it came. I have been highly favored with good friends, ready to do anything for me. Ever since I have been in the country, have had plenty to do, good health, and been perfectly contented, but the last four month I have known more of real solid home comfort and happiness than I every enjoyed before in my life. And why should I not when I am reminded every day by my friends and neighbors that I have one of the best men the country can afford, intelligent, noble-minded, kind-hearted, and lover of home, and in short, to comprehend a great deal in one or two words, a Bible Christian. And do you know, Emma, I think a good Christian, the right kind of one, will make a good husband or father or whatever relation he may sustain to his fellow beings. He will strive to do his part well. Such a one is my husband and my heart is every day made glad by his kindness to myself and Mary. But you will think I am silly, I fear, to write so much about myself and my affairs, but out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, you know, so please excuse my style. I had a letter from Mr. Porter not long ago. I must answer it this evening. George Plumey called a day or two since. I read a part of your letter to him. He wished me to send you his kind regards and best wishes. I have been trying to get him to go home for a wife, there are so many more girls than boys at home, but he seems to be afraid to try. It's for fear he could not get one, or worse than that, get one that was of no account. O the quantity of bachelors there are here, some good, some bad, and some indifferent. Society is the same, of all kinds, but there are many real fine families here. A Sanitary Aid Society was organized last week, of which I have the honor of being vice-president. Tomorrow evening the ladies meet to choose a committee to see to the getting up of a Christmas tree for the Sabbath School. Mr. Walters is the Superintendent of the Sabbath School and he manages some way to keep up more interest in it than I ever saw in a school before, not only among the scholars, but among the people generally.

Uncle Robert was here last week and took Mary home with him. They have no children and they think a good deal of her and are real good to her. Uncle lives about 6 or 7 miles from where we do. Snow has fallen about three feet deep. The climate is colder than in Ohio, but it is dry, so that I do not think we feel it any more than there. But I must close by asking you to write soon and often. Mr. Walters sends his love to you and would like to see you very much. Give my love to the friends and believe.

Your affectionate sister,
Louisa Walters

[Written in margins]
Tell me something of Lovina Consaul and where she is. How Amanda Tinker is getting along and Harriet & Eliza Brown and Jane Brown and all the rest of the folks.

Do you want to know how old my husband is? He is thirty three this month, real good looking, a Tennessean by birth and one of the strongest kind of Union men. If you want to know anything more about me or my folks or sister Sally Jones and her folks, just ask me all the questions you like in your next letter and I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

Mary wanted to write to you the next time I wrote, but she is not here. She may write the next time and tell you all about the Christmas tree. Good Bye. Emma, when are those photographs coming. How much I would like them and your A's [Amos] too. I will send you ours the first time we have a chance to have them taken. Direct to Mrs. L.C. Walters, Placerville, Idaho Territory.