1856 April 27, Iowa Falls, to Cousin Annie

              Iowa Falls 4 mo 27. 1856
My Dear Cousin Annie

A
great flood has washed away mills and houses along the Iowa
River carrying every thing before it but what a puny flood
it was compaired to the flood of tears I shed on hearing of
the marriage of Susan (how my hand trembles as I write the
name) thy letter of consolation came as a balm to my wounded
heart and I will try and take thy advice not to cry after
spilled milk.
Affairs are going on in the old way in this
section of the globe nothing of much interest is stirring
except the wind which to day is particularly severe I never
had an idea that the wind blew, as it does across the
praries it realy exceeds the blowing at "Our old House at
Home" otherwise called "Bleak House."
Thy letter of
information was replete with accounts of marriages and I can
do no better than return the complement by telling thee of
an intended one between Benjamin K Wetherell & Miriam
Thompkins both of them are young and friends they will be
married in about 4 weeks