Last of letters frm Millie. Thanks again Millie, we have really enjoyed a look into the past! May the 27th 1864 Mrs. Rachel Paine Dear Cousin It is with pleasure that I now answer your kind and very welcome letter which I received some days ago I would have answered it sooner but there has been such excitement up I have not had sence enough to write to any person the Bush whackers are very thick up here they are a going all through the country taking horses - but they has not - any of them made their appearance here yet and I do not - think will soon I do not apprehend much danger no though their will be 4 com- panies of the 7th in here this evening then I think will be safe particu- larly if one of them comes. Rachel where is your husband at now you must write me word how William (would guess this referes to Wm s/o Susan, since Rachels Wm was not born til 1883 *B) is getting along and Grand Father & Mel & Avery tell them all to write to me let me know what has become of Susan Eliza and how her eyes are getting I do feel so sorry for her. Sis is sitting in the Porch sewing on Katie a pair of little drawers Lizzie up here now and she is nursing her Baby Sis has the pretties Baby you ever saw she calls it Lizzie Belle . Mother is in the bed sick she walked out in the courntry day before yesterday to see Mrs. Starkey and has been in bed most every since. Tell William Captian Thurber of the Battery and Miss Amanda Moody was married on Wednesday last Father is well and just got back frm St Louis Tuesday night he fetched me a bonnet cost $12.00 & a parasol cost $8.00 and a fan cost $1.00 and also sis a bonnet cost $12.00 and I am going to church next Sunday on purpose to sho my bonnet Mollie Starkey is a going with me Oh I imagine I will break some poor fools heart if it don't rain I must close as Katie and Buntie are both in the room with me and are bithering me most to death give my love to your husband Remember me kindly to Grand Father and all of the rest of my Relatives in Tipton Rachel write soon and I will answer it sooner next time I remain as every your affection cousin Belle Reavis Notes: This is a letter frm Rutha Belle d/o Leander Ashley to Rachel Steelman Reavis m/Harden L. Paine. (making them first cousins) What a wealth of information, abt family, Civ War, prices of bonnets etc... Millie says "this letter was nicely written, easy to read good spelling, no punctuation. By the way last night I found in 1850 Cooper Co Mo census that name of wife for James Overton was "MINERVA"..; would think he likely had at least two wives since I have found two chn for him Wm David b 1852 and Lewis Overton 1871. *Barb