G. S. L. City  July the 18th/54.

My Dear Husband,

I sit down in the midst of the hurry and care of business to write you a line, with the baby pulling himself up by me. We received your letters by Reece’s train as well as the others. I was sorry to hear of your hardships, but I sincerely hope you are in good hands by this time. I wrote you by the June mail which I hope you received. We are all well at present. I have been verry busy all summer at my trade have not had a moment to spare for anything else the avails of which has been a great help to as it has supplied us with butter ever since you went away some cheese and etc. – in fact it is all we have had till lately. We have sold some peas and potatoes. I paid 6 dollars for a load of wood, and got three of the children some shoes made. I particularize because Belinda wrote you I was makeing money like smoke and I thought you would like to hear a little how it went. I have not bought much in the dry goods line, as you wished me not to, but we were so hungry for groceries that we were glad that we had means to get a little. We have not got the house plastered yet for want of lime but I have got the promise it shall be done in about two weeks, and I promised good pay as you told me. We have been troubled verry much with bed bugs. The weather has been very hot for two weeks, our garden has done pretty well considering we have had no help Hannah has done all the work in it herself except a verry little I have helped which was nothing of consequence. We have got along very well, the Lord has blessed the labor of our hands and prospered us in our undertakings. I have not time to write news in full. In fact I do not go out enough to hear any. Ab—m has been to see us, is fat and saucy complains bitterly of E. (at least he would if we would listen to him).

Hannah wishes me to say that she does not think she can write you this time send her best love to you. She is very busy gitting Alma ready to walk on the 24th. It is going to be a grand Juvenile Jubilee all the children [page break] over 8 and under 18 are to particapate in the proceedings. The children are well. They grow finely and get on with their books very well wish very much to see their papa and Aunt Elizabeth. I wish you could see them once O if I could just see you and know you were well what a relief it would be but alas! it must not be at present it seems like seven ages since you went away, but regards do no good so patience awhile longer. My sister is well. John is not well has plenty of work. They wish to be remembered to you. I have not heard from my father since I wrote you before. Oliva has been down to spend some time here since you saw her. I expect you will say—has the girl forgotten all her love and affection for me or does she not think it worth her while to name it. You remember my dear you know that y told me of late that love was takeing care of hogs and getting a living, if that is the rule to go by why then this letter must be all love but enough of this. To be serious my love for you is boundless, my affection lasting as my soul, and my whole heart is as warm and unchangable to you as ever and hope always will be while I have a being. I think of you by night and by day and ardently wish for the time to come when we shall again be clasped in each others arms, and feel the warm beating of each others heart. I know that our love is pure as the fountain of truth and lasting as eternity. I feel gratefull yea proud of your love, and I shall ever try to be worthy of a place in your hearts best affections. Pray for me that I may be kept faithful. My prayrs are offered up in your behalf dayly and hourly that God may bless you and preserve your precious life that you may be permitted to see us again, and I believe my prayrs will be answered and I pray God to bless you forever. Amen. I have not time to say much more. Moroni grows a very fine interesting child he is forward of his age he has 8 teeth and is trying to walk. Aggys health is not so good as I could wish. Give my kind love to E. tell her I should like to hear from her very much. Now hubby do write me a good long letter often as you can. I am yours as ever and for ever

Agatha your own Yfy, dinna forget.

[Transcribed by Walt Morrell, Mauri Pratt, and Suzanne Taysom, Jan. 2014]

Agatha [Pratt] to My Dear Husband [Parley P. Pratt], transcribed letter, 18 July 1854; MS 278, online images, Church History Catalog, Ann Agatha W. Pratt Reminiscences and Letters, 1847-1907 (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE2090355&usedforsort=MS_278_f0001 : January 2014), p. 22; Church History Library, Salt Lake City.

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