Letter from Joanna Muir to John Muir, 1866 Jan 7

[4] Jan 7th 1866Dear John I thought that as Joanna was writing I might as well write a note to you but I intend to write a long letter to you before long. I like going to school very well. Mary and I are studying reading writing spelling Arithmetic grammer Algebra philosophy I never studied algebra before but I like it very well so far we have got almost to fractions, Perhaps you will be tickled to hear that your old friend George Mair is married to a widow with two children her name was Mrs Purvace they have gone to live in his father\u27s old log house. very fine prospect of happiness. You will be sorry no doubt to hear that Putherer\u27s shanty has fallen down and been drawn away. Jimmy Grahm has bought one of David [Topsons?] log houses and put it up some where on the same farm but I do not think it is in the same. But I must now close by hoping that that long letter that you talked of will make its apearence before long. Anna00364[1] Hickory hill Jan 7th /66Dear brother John I thought a letter from home might interest you for a few minutes and with this intention I will try to write a few lines to you We received your letter and was exceedingly pleased to hear from you once more I did not envy your condition on a certain night in the pond I am sorry you have so much to do every day but I hope you will soon see more pleasant times and we will be delighted beyond measure to see you home again You say you do not like to have Hickory Hill sold but you need not bother yourself much for we have not much prospect of having it sold for father did not agree with the man that thought of buying it We like better to stay here this winter than we did before as all of us girls are going to school together once more and though it is pretty cold walking so far some591 [2]of these mornings yet as we have a good teacher we think it is worth standing the cold for she used to teach in the first ward in Portage and we are trying to learn all we can We are going to have a spelling school this week but I don\u27t think we will go We had a weeks vacation between christmas and new year I enjoyed myself very well and had some nice presents I hope you had as many and enjoyed yourself as well Father and Mother and Anna went to Portage so Mary and I stayed at home and had good times The people in Portage and around here have been quite alarmed about the smallpox and it was exaggerated a great deal there was only one case in our district and eight or ten in Portage nearly every body round here is getting vaccinated even to Jim Ried\u27s mother but we have never disturbed ourselves much about it and we have not heard of any one else taking it lately. Father went down to Watsons he wanted Mary and Anna to go[3]with him but they felt to big or something so mother went as far as Portage and stayed there till he came back they started on Monday and came back on Wednesday I think we are having quite a remarkable winter for there has hardly been any snow yet and I have not had a single sleigh ride but perhaps we will have some yet for the winter is not half done yet I suppose there is plenty snow where you are. So this is eighteen Sixty six I think the further back that I can remmembe is eighteen fifty nine I suppose you can remember much further back than that I must write a composition this afternoon yet so I must now close my letter Mother sends her love in black and white and I send my love to you in pink and white please write a long letter to me some day when you have plenty of time and not too much to think about. From you affectionate sister Joanna