1863-10-17, Letter from Rachel Eltinge to her father Roelif Eltinge

              Po’keepsie Oct 17th / 63
Dear Father
		I received your letter this 
morning. and was right glad to
hear from home and, from you all.
I am glad you and Mother are vis-
iting some.  You said Lib told you
to keep your clothes ready.  I suppose
she knows.  When you hear anything
like that from headquarters.  I shall
expect you to let me know. more es-
pecially if I am at all concerned
I suspect Maria, will have to keep
some clothes ready for me. she must
not let them get mildewed, in the
damp house at Springtown.  I
should think Edmund’s people
would feel very sorry to have
Pete leave, so unexpectedly.  I am
glad to hear the piano was fixed

		[Page 4]
have had just as nice a time, without
the refreshments. but as all the rest
of the girls, wanted them, I did not
like to be odd.  Gotts-chalk’s concert,
is tuesday night.  I dont am not
going.  I dont [sic] think it will pay;
I  hope I can learn a piece, before
I go home, or else the piano’s being
mended, will do us no good.  I
have been to church, this morning
and may, go again to-night.  I saw
Josiah yesterday he told me I must
call around, to see Mrs Eltinge often & that
would give a good excuse to go down
steeet.  The boys, all look, and smile, when
they pass here as if they were well acquainted
and Mr. Wrights being so particular
makes me feel awful mischievous
sometimes.  I have not seen Ruly since 
I have been back, Maria has not written
to me yet.  Have they any more schollars [sic]
to the Academy than they did when
I was home?  I have heard that Ira
Hasbrouck and Gus Deyo were coming to
Po’keepsie.  I suppose the cloaks are home
or soon will be.  How are they to be made?
I mean who is to make them?  I think Lib
will have her hands full if she makes them.
Has she finished my dresses yet?  Did you
go to church any where to day.  Tell 
Lib Lefever I think the letters I get
				turn over
(on the top of page 1)
from her are very interesting. but then
I suppose she is very busy. every one wants
to be ready for the wedding, so that if they 
should be invited they will would  look nicely.
Write often
 	Your Loving Daughter.

Envelope to: Mr. Roelif Eltinge
		New Paltz
		 New York
Postmark: Oct 20