1856-05-26 and May the same time, two letter from James Thitchener to his aunts

              Due to the difficult nature of Thitchener's writing,
the edited transcription will follow the literal transcription.


Monday the 26 5741
Dear Ants i recieved all of yours
Big letter it was a good one
i tel yo it made laf sum and it
made me cry a little. When yo
rite agan dont rite so solem
For it tis a solem thing to be
so far from home as i am alone
as yo mite say but i git a long
fine and a pretty cuntry yo
ever sean in yor life     1856
We hav no smol lots hear we
hav nothing but lots contanis 
from 10 acres to 50 and to 600 to 1000
yo mite bet i am around the
preay hens and gofers for i
shot one hen and one gofer
i hav not time to hunt for
hens nor gals but i dont work
very hard i am in a saw mil
and lumber yar to togeathear
we hav 2 gans of min to work
i work the fornoons and sleap the
after noons and work the front
part of the night my work is
lit this is all my work
i feal contented hear if 
i had the gal i wanted
with me hear from the county
of orange for she is is a lames
yo mite bet youer lif if i 
dot come home this fall i 
am bond to git a sort of a frame
by soo

-End of letter-

Monday the 26 5741
Dear Aunts,
I received all of yours
big letter, it was a good one.
I tell you it made [me] laugh some and it
made me cry a little. When you
write again, don’t write so solemn,
for it is a solemn thing to be 
so far from home. As I am alone
as you might say, but I get along
fine and a pretty country you
ever seen in your life.   1856
We have no small lots here. We
have nothing but lots contains 
from 10 acres to 50 and to 600 to 1000.
You might bet I am around the
prairie hens and gophers for I
shot one hen and one gopher.
I have not time to hunt for
hens nor gals but I don’t work
very hard. I am in a saw mill
and lumber yard, two together.
We have 2 gangs of men to work.
I work in the forenoons and sleep the
afternoons and work the front
part of the night. My work is
light this is all my work.
I feel contented here if
I had the gal I wanted
with me here from the County
of Orange for she is is [repeated word] a _____.
You might bet your life if I
don’t come home this fall, I
am bound to get a sort of a [frame]
by so.