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Monday night Oct [October] 20th 1856 
My dear wife,
I reached home to-day [today] and did not find home -- the house looked lone and desolate without the sweet refreshing light of my wife and boy -- how can I do without you --

At Selma I took the cars for Hamburg and found Judge Phelan Mr McIntosh & bride aboard -- we all came up together -- I had just got into our house when a messenger came from Cousin Mary Ann inviting me over to -- take dinner and still another messenger came I accepted and went over -- she and the children inquired most affectionately about you and Joe

I went by sisters [sister's]and found all well, they too inquired after you all -- Mrs Mary [unclear text: Jim] [illegible text] came whilst I was away, she is now out at Bobs [Bob's] -- All of our friends made special inquiry about you & Joe and none more so than Dr [Doctor] Bates -- 



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I visited this evening the resting place of our dear little ones and never so much did I long for my darling Callie to sustain me -- I took supper at sisters [sister's] with a table full of children The negroes have all been well and done I don't know what, but will look after their work tomorrow
Four burials here in one day last week -- Dr Godden, Mrs [unclear text: Vary], Miss Brooks & [unclear text: Didlanes [Didlane's] ] little son -- Mrs V & Miss B died on the road home -- one in S. C. [South Carolina] & the other on the Ala [Alabama] river -- Didlanes [Didlane's] son in the Canebrake -- As I come through Selma, [illegible text] [illegible text] came up to me weeping saying he had just buried his boy Eugene

My dearest Callie, how I pine hourly to hear from you and my noble boy I know you have written, but [illegible text] tardy mails --

Kiss my noble son and keep me fresh in his memory and know there is one heart at least that sympathizes with you and that is of

Your devotedly attached 
[Signed] Porter -- 

Father has just called in and sends love to all --