Washington, Feb\u201a\u00c4\u00f4y 19^{th<\/sup>, 1808<\/p>\n}

Dear Susan,<\/p>\n

I received yours of the 9^{th<\/sup> Inst. You say I have got my wish, the ground is covered with snow, well then them geese I fear will pull the grass roots out below the spring, where the water melts the snow as fast as it falls, we have had some snow storms here the same time, & a great deal of rainy weather, our ground is all bare\u00ac\u2020 the snow don\u201a\u00c4\u00f4t lay long here, we have some cold days every now and then, on wednesday it cleard off and just before sun down it looked like may weather & fine and clear, and in the night the wind rise and it blowed up a rain the next morning.<\/p>\n}

You say you took grand mammy round the neck as soon as you read your letter, you are a fine little girl.\u00ac\u2020 You must kiss her again for me, when you have read this.<\/p>\n

you try to keep the geese out, you must tell George to try to stop all the places they get through, for they will ruin the meadow<\/p>\n

you want to see me, well I assure you I want to see you & all at home, I should like to look out at the window and see how pretty the snow looks on the trees, you got a letter from Billy last week and he was well. I writ one to him a week or so past, I have not got his answer<\/p>\n

mamy you say likes her new wheel, and you have got 2 little Lambs.\u00ac\u2020 I hope they will take care not to loose any this winter.\u00ac\u2020 you must nurs your two old sheep well maybe they will get fat.\u00ac\u2020 I am sorry you burnt your finger. I feel glad to hear you are well and all the rest at home.\u00ac\u2020 I think they should let you have good paper, but I am in hopes of being at home in 5 or 6 weeks, at farthest\u00ac\u2020 I shall tell our folks when to quit writing to me.\u00ac\u2020 my love to you and<\/p>\n

you must let Achsah have some<\/p>\n

miss susan Hoppock\u00ac\u2020 }\u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020 John Lambert<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

I’ve been thinking about the livestock that Lambert describes in his letter. It seems as if the farm he owned was not unlike contemporary farms in Delaware Township, in which there is pasture and cropland, and a relatively small number of animals. Something manageable for an eastern farm, where large acreage is not available as it is in the West.<\/p>\n

George<\/strong>.\u00ac\u2020 It does not seem likely that this would be the George Wilson who owned a farm near Lambert\u201a\u00c4\u00f4s. But who it is, I do not yet know.<\/p>\n

Billy<\/strong>.\u00ac\u2020 Susan\u201a\u00c4\u00f4s brother William L. Hoppock, who is now 16 years old. Clearly he is not in Amwell at this time, but where he has gone I cannot say.<\/p>\n