West Troy

June the 12^th 1858

“My dear wife

It is with Pleasure I now improve these idle moments in talking at a distance I am well and enjoying good health we are down in troy this morning and shall go down the river about noon so it will give me a fine chance to run around and see the place Cyrus has been sick and he thought he had the fever & ague but he is better now we had our boat spring a leak and had to go on the dry Dock because we could not pump the water out fast as it run in and besides all that we have been trading horses and we have got a bully team now you had better believe we think some of bringing a load of coal up to Schenectaday [sic] this trip and not to Utica oh you do not know how bad I want to see you you must take good care of the little girl you know what I mean dont [sic] you if you dont [sic] I will tell you what I mean when I see you again I dont [sic] know when that will be but I hope to see you again oh it has seemed as though I had gone a month already you must excuse my writing [p. 2] because I am in [a] hurry and want to go along with Cyrus around town write to me if you please because I want to hear from you and all of you you must try and get well by the time we get back & lo I want a kiss so bad I dont [sic] know what to do so here is one for you [series of looping letters or symbols] good by my Dearest until I return

from your affectionate husband ever true to you

Peter L Dumont

good by [looping wreath or chain around the good by]