[Editor's note: punctuation added to text, but original spelling retained.]
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Mormon Settlement Sep. 21, 87
Mr. James Wrathall
Dear father
Once more I will pen you a few lines to inform you that I have received your letter and was glad to hear that you were all well, which, I am thankful to say it, leaves me enjoying good health and feeling well in spirits. I do not know of anything of any consequence to write about. Nothing new transpired since I last wrote, only we have had some very stormy weather. It has rained for over a month every few days and the rains have started the grass, and every thing looks like spring now. We have had a slight frost, but did not do
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much damage. People here are mostly in poor circumstances on account of the drouth and Chintz bug, and it will be all they can do to pull through the winter. I have not been travling much this summer, therefore I have not been doing much, but I expect to do a little more after conference, which will be held in this settlement on the 1 and 2 of Oct. after conference. I do not know how soon where I will have to go to after conference. Perhaps I will go to Penn. or Ill. or maby I will have to remain in this state. I am not particular where, if I can do any good, but it is rather discouraging some times to travel so much and not do any good and do not get to hold any meeting, but still, if we do the best we can, our
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labours will be exceped of the Lord, just the same if we held lots of meetings. If my reward is to be according to the meetings I have held, I am afraid it will be a very small reward. The people that are willing to hear our testimony are very scarce. When they attend our meetings, it is for curiosity more than any thing else. I did not imagine when I left home the responsibility I was taking upon myself in coming out into the world to take upon myself the responsibility of that the Apostles of Christ did to teach the people the Gospel in its true light, and would have to meet all kinds of people and those who have been edjucated to preach. I can asure you I feel my weekness, but I have got along firstrate and know if I am faithful that the Lord will help me out at all times, so
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that the learned of this world will not be able to confound me. If it were not for the hope of the future, I would be as Paul says, if in this life only we had hope. We of all men would be the most miserable. This is the case with me at times when I am looked upon as no better than a dog, but when I think of the saying of the Saviour. Blessed are ye when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsy faulsly for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophits that were before you. You asked me about a gray horse. Have you forgotten the one you traded off to Jack Grunig for Scot? That is the one I took to Wahsatch, or perhaps it is the horse you got from Jack that was lost out to Terrace. He is branded 
on, I think, left thigh. He is y____ yet. You asked me what I would ____
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done with my calves. I think they would be better at Lake side after snow, or before. That is, the larger ones, but you can do as you pleas about that. I hope you have not given the well up, for that is a valuable piece of property if you only knew it. Try and secure it, and I will pay 1/2 the expense. Be very carful that no one gets in head of you, for there is some that will if they can do so. Do not let them have the least show. I suppose Wooleys have got some place for there calves by this time. So they will not have there calves at the well this fall, for if they keep on, they will not try to get an other place. Would it not be best to hire a man and have just your own there this fall, and could take all that were poor? You asked me if I had received any Tracts; only nine.
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Mike has to furnish 1/2 of the Bucks himself and I have the privalige of selling 100 wethers. See what you can sell them for, to be delivered 15 or 30 of Nov. I was afraid when you shiped the wool, for the Market droped about the time it was shiped. Also cattle are very low low here. I suppose I could have bought blooded cows here for $12. per head picked, but are little better at present. I would like about 4 or 5 of my fat cows turned in for tithing. Tell Sister Port I received her letter and will write her soon. Remember me to all the folks: Bro. Jeffres & Bro. Rydalch, family. Willie Jiffries is here now and all right. This is all for this time, hoping and prayin you are all well, I remain as ever Your Afec. Son
J. L. W.
Would like to hear from Percy
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Page 98 - record book of James L. W -
Nov. 21, 1887 -
After Breakfast we went up to Viola after our mail - it was here that I heard of my second boy’s birth. I also got some clothes from home. After reading the news we started for Vitroqua. Spent the night with Mr. L. Davis.
Nov. 22 -
After breakfast, we got a ride into Viroqua. I
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bought a pair of felt boots and rubbers. Bought a pair of boots for Leslie and a hood
for Myrtle, and sent them home by mail in the afternoon. We went east and spent the
night with Mr. Riley.
Nov. 25 -
Went into Viroqua and got my Vilease. Bro. Hansen bought 5 cts apples and I 10 cts candy and started for Viola. We went about 7 miles and put up with Mr. Groves.