My Dearly Beloved Mary I herewith send you a New Years letter hoping that it may find you in the enjoyment of health happiness and in full remberance (sic) of me as when we separated last. I have only heard a word from you since I left you & that was by Nathaniels letter. By that I learned that you was sick with the measels (sic) I was sorry to hear that you was sick. But it is better to have them now than hereafter. I hope that you have not forgot me in the least & will write to me. I attributed your not writing to the fact that I stated that I should leave this part of the country soon at that time. But I delayed going below so long on the account of bad weather that I had to defer it all together for the want of time Thomas has gone below. I am now on active duty all the time making preperations (sic) for the jouney (sic) to the Pleasant Valley. I shall be there for you some time in Febuarary (sic) without fail if you do not expressly forbid me not by letter which I trust & hope you will not. But write immediately in the _____ of this & let me know for I am anxious to hear from you It may be that your feelings have changed towards me if so speak plain and disguise nothing if not speak plain anyway. Furthermore state whether you think that you can be ready or not by that time. _____you may___how to judge me by the ____That is if you was now to decline in the negative to me I should feel that I had substained (sic) an incomparable ___. For I have concentrated my hope & affections upon you as one above all others & that is saying a great deal. But do not let it create one single___ thought in your mind. I appraise you as I concieve (sic) you to be good. But goodness never grew out of vanity. I shall never forget you Mary nor your family whether you become mine or not_____to French Creek Knox Co.__My love____to you & may we meet soon

John Curtis

__________Mary Kinsley

P.S. Say to your Father that I have sent on for that spiritual work that I mentioned before & as soon as it arrives I will send it to him the work that I had was borrowed & _____ ___ book & that ____ ___ there is 2 books & 3______ I sent for all

Contributed by Sharon L. Reynolds
This is to add that I haven't really decided if John wrote the word Pleasant when he referred to the Valley. The letter P might have been the letter G, in which case the word might have been Glenmont.