December 1st 1831

My Dear Husband—

I was highly pleased to hear from you by Joel, and of your safe return from your last scrape, I hope to God that you will not suffer by your being so exposed to the Cold for so many nights, I am fearfull that it will give you the Fever and Ague, you are not half as carefull of your self as you should be, how, careless to go out with out your hat, or coat, I am really astonished at you all the uneasiness that I have now is on your account, for you are so careless, of your self, I have to live so very much exposed, I shall be miserable if I hear of your being Sick, you must try and come up, if you should be taken unwell,— I am very smart, the Baby is not two weeks old, and I have been out into the eating room twice, as bad as the weather has been, we have the prospect of a pleasant day at last, the first for two weeks,—

I send you a Plan of a House that Stephen sent down for me to look at, I approve of the Plan very much, it will be a very convenient, and pleasent house, altho it is on a pretty large Scale, but not two large, if you think your purse will allow you to venture so far, if you could git the frame up, and the roof on and weatherboarded, by having one chimney and three rooms made habitable the Balance could remain unfinished until], time, and money ennabled you to finished it; at all evence you can make some improvement on your own Plan by comparing it with the one I send you, I would rather have more room thrown into the rooms, and not have the Passage so wide, I should prefer having the Back-Gallery much wider, than the Front Gallery as it will always be used more than the Other, I approve of Stephen Plan as it respects that end of the house, were the Childrens rooms are struck of; also by deviding one of the large rooms,—; but you can make such alterations as you think propper, you are a better judge that I am how, large a house we can build, and the expence attending it; go according to your own judgement, if Plank can be had to lay down on the Passage and back Gallery, by closing in three rooms, we could move down, (I mean putting in doors and windows) the rest of the unfinished House would do for the boys to Lodge in, through the Summer; I approve of his Plan in laying off the Grounds very much I wish the Back Yard to run down to the Creek and do not let the Boys cut down any of the trees that will make a Shade, you know I am a great Friend to trees and sh[r]ubbery— come up as soon as possible, for we are all very anxious, to see you, write by every opportunity, Adieu—

E. M. P.

Have received letters from John Perry and Rachel, all friends were well, nothing perticular in them;