Note: This letter was written by Louisa Emmaline Robey Young to her uncle, John Collins Robey. Louisa, daughter of Levi and Almira Waite Robey, lived in Dakota or Lancaster Township, Stephenson County, Illinois, and John Collins Robey lived in Travis County, Texas. Levi and John Collins Robey were sons of William and Mary Collins Robey. I have tried to preserve the original spelling, grammmar, and punctuation. This letter is courtesy of Mrs. Jane King Fohn. R. Campbell, ed.

Dakota, Ill's Feb. 23rd, 1868

Dear Uncle, Your letter of the 30 of last month was received in due season and was a very welcome messenger as it brought good tidings from loved and absent ones whose memory we passionately cherish and who we see not save in the visions of our sleep. Last night I saw you all but Fannie in that light, and she I thought the one of all others that should have come to see me went right by and eloped at uncle Nelsons. This somewhat [?] my pleasure but still I had a very pleasant vision. Grandma looked old and feeble but was the same good old grandma she used to be when she used to answer so good naturedly the foolish prattling of a certain [?] inquisitive granddaughter who I imagine used to be very inquisitive. Grand-pa was there to looking old but not feeble like Grandma, and displaying much of the [vivacity?] which used to prompt him to play many a little joke on Fannie and I. Then there was you and Aunt Lizzie you as I so recently saw. You and aunt older than I could posably believe her to be and yet she was only middle aged with now and then a silvery thred in her hair. Last but not least was uncle [?] Asbury. Cy was there, his very counterpart and they had such a big time. They tore down the stone Grand closing [?] was it not? I was very much surprised to learn that your made such a quick trip begin to think Texas is moving north. [?] not seen a single individual of our folk since you left. Am beginning to feel like one cast off. There they are three young, four with Martha, Couple with no one but themselves to take along but themselves and yet they can't come to see me. don't you think it is pervoking. I am going up to see Father & Mother before long for I know they would come down if they could but I do not expect them to come when it is so cold. I have been to Freeport twice this winter to have my teeth fixed. Had four filled and four extracted all costing the neat sum of sixteen dollars. Little Allie Robey is very badly afflicted she has St. [?] [doesn't look like St. Vitus' Dance to me] and her left side is paralyzed which renders her case quite difficult to bear I have not seen her but shall visit her as soon as the weather, which is snowy and very blustery will permit--Last week was very warm and pleasant. The snow which a few days before had fell to a considerable depth all disappeared before the breath of the spring like zephyr's which wafted over our northern clime. I persume it was some [?] breeze which had strayed from your more congenial atmosphere & which soon repented and returned as most prodigals do. It is now snowing [?] snow so fast that we can hardly see to our nearest neighbors. Tom has sold his [80] and there is now a hous on it which will soon be ready for our ditch neighbors to move into. We are all well but [Willie?]. He seems quite unwell today. Has not [shied] round me today. Robert could not get a chance to write in this for attending to him. Seems to have a [fence?] but think perhaps it is only a cold. Amminie is well and has been on my lap a good part of the time while I have been writing this. She says she wants to write to. Robert wants you to tell Uncle Asbury to write to us. I want you to write soon and tell Fannie she owes me a letter.

LY

Written at the top: "Give my love to all and tell Aunt Lizzie if she will answer the letter I wrote her long ago I will write her again.

L. Y [E?] Young