Letter from John T. Duncan, Jr. on his youthful wandering

Union Falls N.Y. Jan 20th, 1863

Dear Uncle and Aunt,

Upon arriving here last week after year wandering, I was gratified to find your letter of Dec 10th but feel somewhat reproved there for having so long delayed replying to your kind favor to me last spring (April 18th) which reached me at Washington D.C. (where I had sojourned three months) just as I was leaving that city. I trust you will not attribute my negligence to any want of appreciation or lack of interest in your correspondence.

On the contrary I delay form time to time thinking I might reach some place when I should have a prospect of tarrying long enough to hear from you again which is still my paramount object in writing you.

But having still “continuing city or abiding place” I have not felt settled for so long in advance any time since leaving Washington last June after which I passed a few days each in Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, & New Hampshire and the balance of summer and autumn in the Green Mountain State [Mortly?] at Windsor Woodstook Castleton Rutland or Middleburg at some of there places selling [?] or at others only [?]. I spent some time in & about the pleasant village of Woodstock when I think you were somewhat acquainted formerly. I enjoyed a very pleasant visit at Castleton for part of August but think you have heard from there more recently.

At East Middlebury I concluded to take lessons in Vermont farming with a former schoolmate a part of whose help forsook him while I was visiting those & I prolonged my stay with him until his crops were all housed & some of them marketed. But finding that after wandering so long I am about as hard to locate or as uncanny as a sailor on shore. I resumed my precarious traveling business & was pursuing it in Burlington when the last steamer to cross the lake for the season was announced & I embraced the opportunity to visit this my old home. I found Mother on a sickbed and under doctors came but she is gaining rapidly & now sits up about all day (I presume Margaret will write more particularly).

While at East Middleburg I frequently visit Uncle Edward & family & spent some time with them though some miles from where I farmed it. I am sorry if my inquiries about Oregon & talk of going there caused any shadow of disappointment among my young relations then I should delight to disappoint them over again by droping in among them when not expected but I see no immediate prospect of attempting such a project. I have not recently felt like enlarging much in any speculation or extending my travels to such great distance from home on account of the unsettled state of our financial & national affairs which looks as if every dollar & every man would be needed to satisfy the craving of war. I expect [?] [?] to return to [?] to finish the business I left there but how long I may stop in any place is very uncertain but if you can favor me with another letter please direct again to this [RC?] if I am away it will be forwarded. I am anxious to learn all about Oregon & the friends I have there & am not sure but it may yet be my home at some future time. We were agreeably surprised last week by a good long letter from Uncle William on his form in Prescott, Wis. I also had one from Cous. Hoytly Post in Dec, himself & family well.

Respectfully your affect. Nephew,

John T. Duncan

The aimes on which we enjoyed that pleasant ride in an old boat is now sealed over & [?] a good sleigh path.