Letter from Margaret Duncan on her postponed wedding and mosquitoes

Union Falls July 1st/ 82
Rev. H. Lyman
Forest Grove Oregon

My Beloved

Yours dated 27th May, & mailed 6th of June, was read a few days since, & I need not say was welcomed with tokens of affection. I can not tell you how much I prize all of your letters. It sometimes seems as if each one I receive was better than any previous one. Perhaps as you are kept away from home so much longer than you expected that you will conclude that it is better for our marriage to be postponed. I am anxious to know what you think about it. If there were not so many obstacles in my way, I should be [?]; yes, happy, to have it take place as soon as you proposed to have it. But it seems more as if it could hardly be expedient unless you could remain East for sometime, & I would certainly feel that I have no right to try to influence you to leave the field in which Providence has placed you. We are having considerable rain lately & the weather is comfortably cool after some very warm days.

Are mosquitoes troublesome in Oregon? We are having quite a visitation from them which is far from pleasant. But I hope their time will not last much longer. We do not usually have much trouble with them for a great while: but we have had so much rain this summer, that they make a longer stay. Since commencing to write, I have rec'd your son's wedding card. The news of his marriage was not entirely unexpected as Horace spoke of their being a prospect of it's taking place sometime. I would like to send them something for a wedding present if I knew what would be acceptable.

But it is a 'great ways' to send anything. May Heaven's richest blessings attend them, all through their life journey: & beyond, & above, may the sweet rest & bright reward of the faithful be theirs.

I must close in order to have this go by today's mail. May God bless you.

Affectionately,
Margaret