Council Bluffs, May 4th 1854 Dear Mother This will be my last chance to send you a few lines for a while. You have received so many it will be nothing new. John and Charles have wrote you all the particulars. I reckoned you would like to hear something about our babys. They are doing fine are well and hearty. My health has improved fine. The boys think I could come home as stout as I am and with my wiskers and you would not know me. Tomorrow we cross the Missouri and roll for the Pacific. We have a fine lot of stock every thing that is needed to add to the safety and convenience of the journey. There is one thing I forgot that is paying Capt. Spinney the rent. I was affraid it might cause you unesiness. If he blows around about it I want you to let me know. I expect to arive in Sacrimento by the midle of August certain. I will send you some money the first thing I do. If Mary Kinn colt let you have a line for me keep it until you hear from me in California. Kiss little Sis for me. Tell her it would do me a great deal of good to rub my whiskers on her face. I miss her whenever I want to kick up a row. She will get a present from me as soon as I get across the plains. It is time I was abed. It is two o'c in the morning. We have had a hard days drive. I have wrote to big Benjamin Baker to night. We send love to you all, remembrances to all inquiring Friends. Your Affectionate Son J.T.Staples