Charles Haven begins this letter to his wife, Annie (Earp) Haven, by explaining that he has been compelled to spend Christmas in Memphis, Tennessee rather than is St. Louis, Missouri as he had planned. After missing his intended boat to St. Louis, he boarded another craft that hoped to overtake the first boat. Mechanical problems compelled them to move slowly, and Haven only got as far as the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. While waiting for another boat, Haven encountered an Arab family and two bears, which interested him greatly. He changed his plans when the Peytoria, which he describes as the finest boat on the rivers, came through heading for New Orleans. Rather than continue to wait, Haven returned to Memphis. Although he does not like his current lodgings as well as the previous ones, he reports that he had a nice Christmas dinner and that the weather is good. Haven finishes by sending his best wishes to his family.