Boston, Dec. 20th 1868—

Dear Father

I have applied for a furloug to
come home Christmas and I have been promised
one to start Wednesday but the trouble is that I
am unable to get means to come with here, as
I am not paid off yet and may not be before
next month. If you get this letter by Monday
night I will be able to get an answer by
Wednesday. I have a case before the court
tomorrow morning I suppose that Fred^k.
made you acquainted with the nature of
the case but since Fred^k. has left I have had
my defendant rearrested and put under
$500 bonds so that now he is safe in jail
the reason that this was done Mr. Stephenson
and Mr Sewell a lawyer whom I suppose
you know understood that the man had
offered me one hundred dollars to settle
which was true he had but I refused under
any consideration because I saw that
I had friends to stand by me and to have

settled it for a little money would
turn them against me and they
told me that if I needed the money
very bad that they would give me
twice the sum sooner than see me
settle it but I have never had any
idea of settling it. I have got some
Friends here yet

My love to all the
family

Your Aff Son

Cha^s R. Douglass