[1]    The letter "from home" was probably from his mother. But included among the Goodrich letters at the Arkansas History Commission is one written by his cousin Lucy A, Fiddis from that time period who also resided in Owego NY and contained much news from home. It read:

Owego [New York]
September 23, 1864

My dear Cousin Ralph,

I am most deeply ashamed of myself for my neglect in writing to you...  [Your brother] Steve has just been in here a few moments on his way downtown. Says they have lately got a letter from you. I was over there Monday night [and] came back in time for school Tuesday morning. Of course I had a good time. [I] always expect that when I go over [Owego Creek to your mother's home]. They were all well then, but Steve says Johnny, [your sister] Augusta's oldest, fell off the wagon house and hurt his chin & under lip quite badly.

I am teaching here at home, just as I was when you last heard from me -- if you have a memory long enough to remember how that was. A school of my own, numbering nearly thirty pupils most of the time, and sometimes fully that. Ever since they told me you had given up teaching, I have felt like congratulating you. So please consider yourself shook hands with, wished much joy, success for the future, no more teaching, but everything pleasant and prosperous. Somehow it seems to me it must be peculiarly trying to a man -- this teaching business -- not but that they are capable & all that. But generally I think they have not the patience with little wearisome events which occur continually in school, that a woman has. It is not expected of them to like such confinement and restraint as is necessarily imposed upon them either. To be sure, 'tis tiresome to a woman even. And I can imagine one might get pretty well worn out at it. At any rate, I'm heartily glad for your sake that you are out of it for the present.

When are you coming home again? I wish you were here now. I wonder if you have changed much? Steve says you sent your photograph home. I have not yet seen it so can't decide whether you have changed or not. Send us one if you have to spare. Then I'll tell you what I think about it.

[My sister] Anna came home about three weeks ago [and] was here over two weeks -- the first time she has been home since she was married. They are housekeeping now. Anna says she gets along splendidly in the domestic department. We had a real good visit with her. She is a pretty thorough Baptist by this time though.

I suppose your people have written to you all about [my brother] James, and also much of the other news which I may happen to write, but I don't know for certain so I'll run the risk of repeating. We got a letter from James about two weeks ago. He was on Ship Island where he has been ever since last October. He is foreman of the Naval Machine works there. They repair the blockade boats in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. I think he had been quite well all summer. He writes nothing to the contrary. Says the island is healthier than the mainland. In his last letter he anticipates being send to Pensacola [and] seems quite anxious to go there because lately they have so little work on the island. He had 14 men and sometimes hardly a day's work in a week. He has a sail boat of his own [and] also a fishing seine whenever he wants it from one of the vessels lying off the island. Thinks he may come home next summer. I do wish we could all be here together once more. 'Twoud seem something like old times -- only you and James would have quite an additional experience. Maybe that will have the effect of making me look up to you as Oracles. Who knows?

October 1st.  By waiting four or five days I've got some more news to write you. Have been over and took a good look at your photo. Think you've changed somewhat. The expression around the mouth seems a little different. Your mother and [sister] Augusta started for Connecticut last Tuesday night. Hope they will have a pleasant time.

Newton Hollister from Glastonbury [CT] came here night before last [and] is up in Candor now. He is going to Newfield today, then coming back here again, then home. His brother James has been in business in Memphis for some time past, but is at home now.

This summer in my vacation I went in company with a young lady friend of mine up into New Hampshire amongst the mountains. Went up Mt. Washington and also went to all the pretty & wonderful places around there. Then we went up in the northern part of Vermont on Lake Memphremagog. Staid there a few days, then I left my friend and came down to Hartford & Glastonbury while she visited her relatives up in Vermont. Then we met again in Hartford & came on together. We had a splendid time. Enjoyed ourselves everywhere.

What a long letter I am writing to you. I'll desist now however. Will you answer this? What do you think about it? Anyway write and tell me just what you think about me. Give me a piece of your mind [for being tardy in my correspondence]. I'll try and be more thoughtful of other people's wants in the future. Only be as lenient a judge as possible.

Mother & all the rest send love.

Yours affectionately, -- L.A. Fiddis