Knoxville, Tenn.

Sept. 20th 1866

My very Dear Mother & Eliza

It has been
some time since I wrote to you. I have
been often anxious about you since I
heard of the cholera in St. Louis. I Know
that you have escaped it, or I would
have heard had you been attacKed.
It is now raging in Nashville-50 or 60
dying every day. So far we have had
no cholera here-and it is so late in the
season that I suppose we shall escape it.
My health is better than usual-as ever
I am Kept very busy. I have just
finished writing some things for the orphans
to be published-as soon as printed I
will send you a copy. I have
been invited by the Arch Bishop
of Cincinnatti to deliver a
lecture in his city for the orphans

in November. If I can possibly
spare time, I shall go to see you,
but I have so many engagements
that I doubt whether I can go or
not. If I can, I shall.-You need not
write to me [&] until you hear from me
again. In a few weeKs, I’m going to
Nashville, and will write to you from
there. Good bye-

Yours in love

Abram J Ryan