Old German Script-need help with a few words

[Zacktyr]

Hi,

I have attached a small portion of a long letter written in old German script.  There is one symbol that is unfamiliar to me but I'm thinking it is a German equivalent of an ampersand &.  Is my thinking correct?  I have highlighted several instances of the symbol.

Also, there is an interlined word with the word immediately following it that I need help with, as well as with one other word that appears to be written twice in the attached but in slightly different letter formation.  Are these two words the same word?

Thank you.

[shanreagh]

Does an '&' fit the context? 

I am not sure that this is old German script, that looks a bit Gothic as I know it but perhaps cursive handwriting  that happens to be in German. 
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Germany_Handwriting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive#English

There is a section on German cursive in the wiki entry. 

[Zacktyr]

Does an '&' fit the context? 

I am not sure that this is old German script, that looks a bit Gothic as I know it but perhaps cursive handwriting  that happens to be in German. 
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Germany_Handwriting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive#English

There is a section on German cursive in the wiki entry. 

Hi,

Thank you for taking a look at this.  My brain is so over-worked that I never made the connection.
 Yes, the symbol does fit with the word "and".  So, one problem solved.

The letter is dated in August of 1856 so is written in "Kurrent" cursive.

Any thoughts on the other two problems - the interlined section and the two words that appear to be similar but are slightly differently spelled?

[shanreagh]

Cheers will have a look later.....posters Dave Capps and karen McD I think are German speakers as mine is very rusty even though I learned German over there.

[davecapps]

Any thoughts on the other two problems - the interlined section and the two words that appear to be similar but are slightly differently spelled

The first one is zu viele Geschäfte zu besorgen
more or less "to many things to do"

the second one
nach 8 tägigen Ruhe & Pflege
ging ich ins Geschäft auf ein Dampfboot nach St Louis
could mean "found work on a steamboat to St Louis"

[Zacktyr]

Thank you, Davecapps

I greatly appreciate your input.  You have answered my thought that the word Geschäfte  and Geschäft were the same word, more or less.  My declension of nouns is very rough and mostly forgotten since school days.

On the fourth line following "besorgen" is the interlined word and the word written under it.  I am having great difficulty sorting out what those two words are.  Can you help me with that, please?

[davecapps]

Not sure myself:
i read

Sowie oft habe ich schon
an euch gedacht & schreiben an allen & es immer noch verschieben
müssen, da ich in meinen Mußestunden zu viele Geschäfte zu
besorgen hatte. Theils? auf/und ? euch erfreuliches schreiben zu können.
Ich langte nach 54 tägigen Fahrt glücklich und wohlbehalten in New
Orleans an. Meine Caßa (Kasse) war auf wenige Dollars zusammen
geschmolzen. Allein gesund und munter war ich keinen Augenblick
um eine Stellung verlegen. Nach 8 tägigen Ruhe & Pflege
ging ich ins Geschäft auf ein Dampfboot nach St Louis. In

Dave

[Palomino]

Hey

I'm reading

O wie oft habe ich schon an euch gedacht und schreiben wollen und es immer noch verschieben müssen, da ich in meinen Mußestunden zu viele Geschäfte zu besorgen hatte. Theils auch um euch erfreuliches schreiben zu können.
Ich langte nach 54 tägiger Fahrt glücklich und wohlbehalten in New Orleans an. Meine Cassa war auf wenige Dollars zusammen geschmolzen. Allein gesund und munter war ich keinen Augenblick um eine Stellung verlegen. Nach 8 tägiger Ruhe und Pflege ging ich ins Geschäft auf ein Dampfboot nach St Louis. In

Google translator says:
O how often I have thought of you and wanted to write and still had to put it off because I had too much business to attend to in my leisure hours. Partly also to be able to write you pleasant things.
After 54 days of travel I arrived safely and happily in New Orleans. My cash had melted down to a few dollars. Alone alive and well, I wasn't at a loss for a job. After 8 days of rest and nurturing I went into business on a steamboat to St Louis. In

[Zefiro]

I also made a transcription, but Palomino was faster than me.
O wie oft habe ich schon
an euch gedacht & schreiben wollen & es immer noch verschieben
müssen, da ich in meinen Mußestunden zu viele Geschäfte zu
besorgen hatte. Theils auch um euch erfreuliches schreiben zu können.
Ich langte nach 54 tägiger Fahrt glücklich und wohlbehalten in New
Orleans an. Meine Cassa war auf wenige Dollars zusammen
geschmolzen. Allein gesund und munter war ich keinen Augenblick
um eine Stellung verlegen. Nach 8 tägiger Ruhe & Pflege
ging ich ins Geschäft auf ein Dampfboot nach St Louis. In