Page: [1]   Tuesday night [illegible text] March / 53 [1853] 
My dear Callie,

Though I am a good deal fatigued to night [tonight] still I will not permit the opportunity to pass of thanking you, my sweet love, for your two most welcome letters, in one envelope; received on last night -- t'was [it was] only in the morning I was complaining of the mails, I regret having complained that time -- but dear wife how did I know the little fellow would bring me so precious a mail? You know too darling, the inconvenience of not having a daily mail -- Dear Callie t'was [it was] the sweetest letter you ever penned and that is saying a great deal -- I know you do love me, my dear wife could you but know how sincerely and ardently tis [it is] returned with my whole heart I love my Callie -- dearest wife I never fully realized before our painful separation how absolutely necessary you were to my happiness -- You are ever present to my mind -- sleeping or waking, darling little Callie is before me -- to day [today], whilst engaged in hill side [hillside] ditching, my thoughts had wandered from the Levee to Athens, Mr Fitz had twice to speak to me to break the spell -- now this moment my eyes will wander from the paper to the little rocking chair, you used to adorn -- I go into the store room every morning to look at the future resting place of our dear little one and imagine Callie, rocking and singing lulla -- bies [lullabies] -- turn, where I will, engage at what I may, thy dear form is ever present -- Sweet love I do adore you --




Page: [2]  

Wednesday morning --

In order to have this at the road in time, I can merely say that all are well -- I slept very, very late this morning, later than I have since I came home I feel quite well & refreshed after my long nap -- I expect to-day [today] to dine with Thos [Thomas] W. [Walthall] and spend the night with L. N. W. -- Sweet Callie, I wish so much you were here this bright morning to walk into the garden, leaning on the arm of him who loves you so tenderly -- darling we would stop every now & then and take a few dozen kisses would'nt [wouldn't] we?

How does our precious little one, don't [unclear text: he] seem impatient to join his Pa in his excursion into the farm, to ditches &c [et cetera] -- I anticipate a great deal of pleasure in having him accompany me and then to hear the little fellow boast of his great & daring feats in making his pony jump ditches &c [et cetera] while his admiring Ma sits all wrapt [wrapped] in her noble boy -- With delight, I see in the future, my bright eyed daughter, making the fireside happy and cheerful with her merry laughs and calling forth the deepest & tenderest affection of her Pa, her resemblance to her Ma is so striking Sweet love I must stop -- Remember me kindly to all I look confidently this evening for a love letter --

Dearest Callie good-bye, think often of 
your devoted 

[Signed] Porter