Waterloo Ga. April 1^st 1861

 

My dear Sister

                        Your welcome letter was received yesterday. We were glad to hear from you, and to hear that all were well. I received a letter from Daniel also, at the same time. He tells me he is farming but does not intend to plant any thing except watermelons and corn. I am glad he has taken the notion to farm it, as I know he must be happier at work than to be unemployed. He wrote very cheerful too. I so often think of him and wish I could be near him all the time. Tom Crosland is here at this time, he came last Thursday, and I expect he will buy land near us, the same place he intended to buy before. The bargain is not fully made yet / but I think the trade will be closed to day I do hope that nothing will occur to prevent their coming this time. He says the spring is much in advance of South Carolina. We have beans up with three or four or five beans on them. We have had radishes for two or three weeks, but our garden is not good at all like some of our neighbors. Mrs Steele has had peas large enough to eat for two weeks and some persons have Irish potatoes half leg high, but we cant boast of such at all, for our garden was late, as Isabella waited to have new palings put up.

 

Our flowers though look beautifully and the bushes are waited down with blooms. I reckon I tire you all writing so much about our flowers, but they do look so pretty that I cant well help it. I wish I could send you some of them 

 

Mr Horn has had bad luck with his cattle this winter, some kind of a disease got among them and he lost twenty odd, and more yet may die, but he had a very large drove of cattle, and we will have enough left now to make as much butter as we can use, although at this time we dont use the milk much, and dont churn it at all, for fear it might be diseased, their throats swell up and they have hollow horn too. but I hope now the disease is over with. I saw John Walsh & his wife last Saturday they spent the day here. his health is not very good, but her health is fine and her baby is too. Georgia agrees with them. You know she was Sallie Spencer. Tom Spencer is out here too, I dont think the Walshes like Georgia much. She says though, if her Mother was here she would be contented. Mr Steele's family are delighted with Georgia they say / and we are still pleased. Tom Crosland says, if he comes that Mr Stuart will come too. I hope they will, for I like Mr & Mrs Stuart for neighbors. Kate Bethea wrote me that Joe Steed was going to school in Marion how comes that? I was glad to hear that you had sent Susan down there, does Mary Jane & Kate go to school to any one now? tell Mollie that I answered her letter, but never had any reply to it tell Mr Lane I think it was right shabby of him to send his respects out to Mr Steele by Mr Walsh and not to send me any at all, especially as I had been so kind as to send him my respects I think more than once. Give my love to Mrs Lane, tell Peggy that her mama is well so are the children, and that Mary More is exactly like her. remember me to all the neighbors. I am glad that you are pleased with your missionary and his wife I had a letter not long ago from the Hughes All are well here I believe white & black Isabella joins me in love to you and all the family Tom Crosland will send this to you, or rather Daniel will send it as I will put it in the same envelope with his, write soon to your Sister

                                               

Ellen

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