Preston, Minn
April 19th, 1871
Dr. Benjamin, Hutchinson, Minn
Dear Sir,
Your favor of the 14th was duly received & contents
noted. Glad to know that you have been over
and seen how things are at the farm. I
want you and Mr. Case to council together neighborly, candidly, firmly. Our agreement is fully stated, that Mrs. Case
is to take care of the house or Mr. Case is to have another woman to take
charge of the doing & housekeeping in all its detail. I did feel glad to hear from you that Frank
McKenzie had gone and I wish Tommy Summer could find another place. Both of these boys had reputation of dishonesty
but I think you and Mr. Case did the best you could under the circumstances,
but the circumstances must be trying to have to take the two scallywags of the
village. Be patient with Mr. Case and
see if he can’t get a good wife, daughter or some friends, and let Tommy go
home. I told both Mr. Case and Mrs.
Summer that I should not want Tommy to work for me.
The Steamer Keokuk going up the Mississippi from Winona to
Reed’s Landing today, this 25th April, 1871.
Dear Dr.,
Time runs so fast away .
I have had every moment employed since I last wrote you on the other page:
traveling, talking, singing. Now I have found
a moment as we ride along the high waves of the rapidly rising Mississippi .
To resume, I am very sorry that Mr. Case is not living
neatly in our house. Perhaps it will be
better by & by. But I do wish Tommy
were away or that he was a better boy if he was to stay. Mr. Case wrote me that there would be no
bills for Tommy staying and working in the house. But I do not want boys help in the place of a
good woman who should now be at the head of the doing.
I don’t want any of the cows sold till I come home the two weeks
in May. I number of the earliest pigs
can be spared and ought to bring $3 to $4 apiece. Please send ___ to the neighbors and help
make the best sale of them. Have you
priced any pork, flour, butter, eggs, etc. yet for Mr. Case? Many wheat fields in southern part of the
state are showing the spring wheat up and growing. You are probably all through sowing by this
time.
Have our trees come and are they set out? I shall try to bring some evergreens along
when I come.
How goes the church along?
Hope brother Capp has returned and will bring the building to completion
before the autumn frosts come.
Sorry to know that Mr. Recond lost his little boy. He was a smart little fellow.
Believe Dayton we felt we could not survive long when we
were there. It has been the worst year
for cold known since the settlement of the state. Gov. Austin is much honored, strengthened the
state for his manly veto. Don’t you
think he did right? We ought to sustain
him against the inquisitions, disingenuous Republicans & Democrats. I do wish the grog shops could be crushed out
of our midst. What a curse is drinking!
The bluffs of this valley are beautiful! Love to your family.
Truly yours,
Asa B. Hutchinson
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