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Washington Sept 29th/63

Dear Sister,

I received your letter yesterday and was very glad indeed to hear from you, that all the folks are well and that they did not get letters that I sent them for to tell the truth I began to think pretty hard of them for not answering, but if they did not get them of course they did not know where I was. The letters were small loss any- how as there was not much else in them, but a sheet of paper and a stamp. I had nothing to write about then and I have as much now. There is nothing going on here. I do my work and either go to bed or to the theatre at night, sometimes I take a walk with some fair dame, but oftener I am found enjoying the sooth- ing society of my pipe, the only true friend that I have found in all my travels.

I almost wish that I could have had a good bowl of that soup, not because I dont get any here, for gracious knows I do. At least they call it soup, but I would be willing to bet if they struck it with a whip it would "git up and git". I mean the meat part of it, for it is my firm belief that it is nothing more or less than defunct mule, they are selling them here at about five dollars a head, a great deal cheaper than beef. I know for a certainty that the Sailors get it in what they call "Slung Cat" or "Bull Yarn". I was on board of a ship the other day where they had it for dinner, they have changed the name to "Mule Soup", they have also a new study called Mule- atomy, said to be very interesting. You must not be offended if I tell you that the problem they undertake to solve is to find out when a mule dies which end the breath left his body. (Heres is where the laugh comes in)

(Sarah) You say that you know my reasons for not come- ing home. I am rather curious to know your opinion of them, but it is useless for you to guess. I am not ashamed or afraid to tell them if I thought it would do any good. Suffice it to say that my resolution was taken to leave home for a while on the day of the Picnic at Staten Island. I must now close. I have fill- ed this sheet full of nonsense but it is a letter aint it. Give my love to [Deil Carman?] the young ones, Susie, Libbie, Aunt Margt and everybody and I remain

Your Affect Brother

AJ Weeks

Esq