Mrs. Brown wrote to her husband, on February 15th, from Utica, New York:
The world seems dark to me, so long without you. When shall we meet? . . . What do you conclude? I little thought of such a long separation when I left you. If I had one hundred dollars I would go back in April—unless you conclude it is best to come here. … I am feeling so distressed about Spencer that it takes the spirit all out of me, but I do try to commit him to my Saviour and trust that He will take care of him. If you come, if we can learn whether he is still at Newport, Kentucky, would it not be well for you to come by way of Cincinnati and get a proper situation for him, and take him, he being under age?
My Dear Father: . . . I presume you have about made up your mind to come this way as soon as possible. I want to see you very much, and a change will perhaps do you good; but I hope you will not take final leave of Kansas, because a roof there, though humble, is better than no roof at all—to say nothing of a farm. . . . With a friendly President, who knows but brighter days are dawning for us? After living in the West, the East does not seem so pleasant, unless one is very rich.
What do you think about Spencer? It seems dreadful to me.
Monday morning, February 18, 1861. We received your letter Friday evening, and a portion of it was published in this morning’s paper. . . . There also came a letter from Spencer, from Newport Barracks, Kentucky. He has been sick. Grandpa seems to feel very bad about him, and says he thinks you could claim him, as he is under age. . . . Could you not write and claim him?
Your loving daughter,
Kitty.
