December 14, 1862--Stephen to His Children (Page 4 of 4)

and not a vegetable to Eat nothing but bread and meat and I feel that it is but poor pay for the benevolence and kindness that i have shown to others all my life   till the children the must all rite ____to me  tell Mother Francis and the girls that if tha want __ should rite  they must __ have written several letters since we have had any___them   Elizabeth is a very Differant (?) woman to__than she was   she is a good woman _____ and a good wife and mother   you would not know her by __ ____ __ ____ your letter

Dalles
Wasco County, Oregon
yours, Stephen Sherwood

in love        Stephen Sherwood

H S Sherwood
S M  Sherwood

Note:
Mother Francis would be Laura Francis, the mother of Elizabeth Francis Sherwood.  H S Sherwood would be Henry Stephen Sherwood, Stephen's son, and S M Sherwood would be Henry's  wife, Sarah.