Sarah Bishop has to pay $7/month to keep an Irish family from moving in upstairs. Nathaniel might board with the family. Sarah's teeth look good.
Afternoon July 7th 1863
My dear Wife,
I have just recvd a letter from you dated June 24th for which I am obliged. You mention that you had to pay Mr. Griffin 7 dollars for month to keep possessions of the house without having that irish family come in. I think my darling that you did perfectly right under the circumstances as I would rather not have you or the children subject to such influence. My darling do not think that I am dissatisfied with you for I am not I love you too well for that [?] I think you acted with good judgement. Let us take care of the things of the present and trust that we shall be able to attend to those of the future.
As it regards our taking Nathaniel to board with us, it would depend some what upon what he himself would think of it. I think that it woud undoubtedly benefit us in percuniary point of view and I should not apprehend much difficulty from it ifl did not think that he would prefer to stay with Fanny or some one that lived in style than we can afford to. If you should think that it would be for our interest or if you should desire to do so I myself am perfectly willing. I think that Nathaniel would not like to board with me because he always had a kind of jealousy of me. Which I should not care anything about if it did not make him miserable. I leave it for you to do just as you think best, but if you should endeavor to help our income by taking boarders or anything of that kind only look out that it is some one that cannot injure your good name. there would be nothing improper in boarding Nathaniel but I think you had better try and get along just as you are now until I come home unless something should prevent my coming home.
I would my darling that I could come to take care of you and ease you of the responsibility of the care of the Family but I cannot get out of the service until the powers that be see fit to let us go home. You know my darling how glad I should be to be at home with you and how much I long for the time to come that will give me permission to join you. My darling I hope I shall never prove ungrateful what is due to you as one that I have promised to love I hope you will remind me of it and help me to the true course of action again. You speak of having your new teeth and that you think that they improve your appearance. I shall be glad to have you look as handsome as possible of course and hope that it will give you pleasure to have them. I myself do not expect to be improved in appearance as I am tanned very dark, but when I get some Sunday clothes on I hope I shall be passable. Time passes quicker I think in the city than it did out as there is so much more to attract our attention. Every day we talk up the probabilities of our getting home. All of us feel as if our time was out and are in hopes that they will start us toward home soon.
My dear darling wife how much I want to see you and be with you and how glad I am that you love me and that you have confidence in my principles. I have no desire my darling for anybody but you in my little, my patite, my good angel
from your loving Husband
J. D. Bishop
