Luminary office March 23rd/55 [Friday 1855-03-23]

Friday 9 oclock [o'clock] P.M.

My Dear Artimesia [Artimesia Beman Snow 1819-1882]

I have a half hour left, while the clerk is mailing this weeks papers, to write to you and to the Governor [Elder Brigham Young 1801-1877] Before the mail closes. I draft [drafted] a few lines to Minerva [Minerva White Snow 1822-1896] and did not know or [if] I should find time to write to any of the rest of you.

The Salt Lake mail for February [1855-02] which arrived on the 21^st inst. [instant – 1855-03-21] Brot [Brought] me nothing from any of you but Zera [Zerubbabel Snow 1809-1888] said in his that all were well. Thank God for that --

I am as well as I can be and labour [labor] as hard as I am obliged to at this time and not get time to go to dinner or suffer either unless I run from a Doz. [Dozen] persons and find another gang waiting when I return

[Page 2].

This hurry will continue at intervals untill [until] the season for emigration is over. Bro. C. H. Bassett is now with me and will with my other clerks take off some of my labours [labors].

I presume you will wish to ask me a thousand questions about your business affairs at home. But to tell you the truth I have not time to scarcely think of my own affairs in Salt Lake [Salt Lake City, Utah] only when I pray and then I ask that the Holy Spirit may guide & strengthen you to magnify your calling as Bishop of my house and affairs. I have heard nothing as yet of the action of Bro. Huntsacker [Hunsaker] in relation to the cattle since I wrote you and him about it last fall. Zera [Zerubbabel Snow 1809-1888] said nothing about any of my affairs except our company business. Whenever you are obliged to have goods or money get it of him unless you can raise it by sale of stock. I hope you will be able to get a good garden and various fruit trees & shrubbery & growing. But you will I know do the best you can or know how to do. & I shall be content therewith & hope you will be also. But if you got your share of poles from the herd ground which Lorenzo sold I hope you will be able to complete the fence arround [around] the five acre lot and let the boy be cut our share early. I hope the children will learn well. I send you Gody’s Ladies Book for Feb [February 1855-02] & Mar [March 1855-03] which you are at liberty to do with as you please. I should like to talk with you a little while tonight and then I suppose I should not be will [willing] to leave. I must however content myself by writing. Do write by every mail some of you or all of you. I hear that Bro. Eldridge and Loraine are both married. Who else? — I rejoice to read in the news Bro. Brighams [Elder Brigham Young 1801-1877] sermons. I hope you and all my family appreciate and improve upon those precious priviledges [privileges] which you enjoy. God Bless you and all the children. I don’t know who I wrote to last for I cannot keep track of myself now a day. P.O. Hanson [Peter O. Hanson ?] & most of Danish Co. [Company] are gone up the Missouri to Leavensworth about fifty left here have suffered from Cholery [Cholera] and about a Doz. [Dozen] died. The English emigrants have also suffered considerable, but nothing to what they did last year.

I forget to say to Minerva [Minerva White Snow 1822-1896] that agreably [agreeable] to her request I have a beautifull [beautiful] locket with chain for her containing my likeness and over and above that she asked I have also hers with the children copied into the oppiside [opposite] of the same facing my own. If I do not come to make you a visit this summer I will send it with other family presents. Elisabeth [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow 1831-1915] How do you do tonight. I did not entirely forget you. May you be happy and prosperous forever and the girls. The smartest among all your children: I remain your effectionate [affectionate] husband E. Snow [Elder Erastus Snow 1818-1888]