1869, to My dear sister Anna & Lily & Chellie

              My dear sister Anna & Lily & ChellieI feel it in my heart to send you a few lines of remembrance, for though of course you see most of my letters, it seems strange never to hold any direct communication with you. But as I have repeatedly said, there really seems [?] than time to write to Thomas & the children. You must not suppose from that, however that I do not very often think of you all. Thee dear sister, has no doubt been as usual in summer time greatly occupied in caring for the comfort of others. I suppose thy time of recreation has hardly come yet, but I shall be glad to hear of a prospect of thy usual visit to Newport which always does thee so much good. As to thy undertaking what we have been doing, thee would have to be much stronger than I have known thee for a long time been fore thee could go thro’ with it. I sometimes get pretty fogged, but I seem to get rested again & am very well mostly. We seem to get good accounts of your health in general-- I hope they will continue-- it will indeed be cause of than [?] if all keep well in our absence and we are permitted to reach home in safety. And dear Lily & Chellie my thoughts have always been with you too, altho' I have been writing to thy daughters, for you come next to daughters to me, and I know that you share with them so fully, in the interest they feel in hearing of our doings. I wish I could give you a better idea than I do of the wonderful & interesting pleasure have visited. I should like to get more photographs than I do, but it is so difficult often to find the ones we want especially, unless we had a great deal of time to search further. if you could only look out of my window just now, up to the great ramparts of rock that inclose this mountain valley, over one of which is the pass of the Genui, you would say they look pretty impassable. They are magnificent though. Cousin