[added: 18.3
Martha B Chester & Col [Colonel] C Answered]

It is nearly a mounth [month] since you left home, it appears more like a year than a mounth [month] we are all very busy prepareing [preparing] for Uncle Jackson he is expeted [expected] here next thursday [Thursday] or friday [Friday], how do you like Columbia how do you come on at school, do you sleep in the first second or third story, mama is very anxious to know, mama thinks that you will be a very bad corrispondent [correspondent], if you knew knew how very anxious to know we are to here [hear] from you. I am sure you would write to us,. O Sister how we pited [pitied] you when you was sick we all cryed [cried] about you we are mighty glad you are with such good friends uncle Robert has and all the little Patton's and cusin [cousin] Jane has gone to florida [Florida] . Elizabeth Hail and Josafine [Josephine] has gone to New Oreals [New Orleans] . O, Sister brother sam [Sam] has got a tooth, I have no other news, O, Sister I have forgot to tell you that my [unclear: meachun ] has moved to mr taylors [Mr Taylor's] house and my Day is keeping tavern, mama and pa and all of them send their love to you. sister Give my love to that little girl that sent her love to me and to cusin [cousin] Jane cusin [cousin] Elen and little [unclear: Jane ]. sister you forgot to put her name

Your affectionate sister

Martha B Chester

My Dear Daughter

Mr. Walkers letter, has given us great distress about you

I hope you will not go back to school untill [until] you are entirely restored to health & strength — indeed we have concluded that we will send for you & bring you home. If you are not right well, when we hear again from you and let you remain here untill [until] the [unclear: Comanst ] of the Winter Session. One Month now has passed of the present session and you are not yet able to go on — I write to day to Mr Walker & tell him our [unclear: delineation ]

We hope, my dear daughter, that you have had no more chills — but if they shoud [should] continue to afflict you we will bring you home — your Brother John & Aunt Narcissa will come for you —

The letter from your little sweet sister — made & written by herself will give you the news — but since her letter was written your cosin [cousin] Martha has presented her loving husband with a fine black headed boy he was born 30 [unclear] — about one oclock [o'clock] in the day time — We have been over to see him to day & find him a fine fellow

Your Mother says she is nearly dead

to see you and if I would let her she would start in the morning to see you

I trust in our next letter we will receive the [unclear: charing ] news of your restoration to health —

Present us kindly & affectionatly [affectionately] to our kind friends & relatives with whom you are, to evry [every] one individually & collectivly [collectively] we owe them a debt of gratitude which we will ever acknowledge

May the great dispenser of all health restore you & preserve you

your afft [affectionate] Father & Mo [Mother]

Robt [Robert] J and Elizabeth Chester

Miss Mary Jane Chester