Devils Oak Feb /59

           

Dear Cousin

                                    I think I have recovered enough, that I will be able to colect a fiew thoughts together in the form of a letter. I must confess that I was very much schocked when I rec your note but owing to a strong mind & powerful constitution I lived through it & am able to write. Indeed I had given up all hops of ever hearing from you, so you may judge of my surprise when I got your letter. I'm going to school this winter & studying devilment. I study Grammar arithmetic geography orthography & reading & the balance of the time I chew tobaco play cards I drink / whisky. I have given up the study of law & think I will study devinity next summer, don't know how I will like the trade. I must quit for the present I am going to a turkey roast to morrow there was a couple married last week & they are going to be there I'll bid you good bye for the present

                                                                                               

Good evening now

I again resume the my task of finishing my letter. It is as cold as the north end of Greenland to night. We have excelent sleighing now but it don't do me any good although we have got six head of horses now. Our old folks have gone out to Crawford Co. this week Jack & Maggie have gone along Jack has bought a farm one mile east of hear. there is sixty six / acres in the farm he is to pay $23.00 for it. He has been all over the west & came & settled down in this wooden country & is going to rais tad poles & whip perwills for a living May the Lord prosper him I do not know what I will do yet our school will be out in three weeks & then I'm going out into Ohio to hunt for work & if I don't get any I think I will go west I have looked all over this country but can't get any. Uncle Sam^l was out here week before last Grandfather had been prety poorly before he was out he said there had been a man down from Uncle Aarons & said Aunt Betsy wasent well & thought never would be he intended to go out there last week & said he would write & let us know how she was I had a letter from Ruth not long since she says she is geting along / fine with her school I want go out before it is out & drop in & see it some time I was out there three or four weeks last fall I came away the morning she comenced her school. I would of went out to your house but I was a fool & it was too mudy to go out.

 

Nan I am very glad you wrote for I expect I would never of heard from you again for I had made up my mind never to write to you until you wrote if that had been till doomsday & four days longer. I must draw to a close as I have run out of news. Please write soon & give me all the news & I will try and be prompt in answering it. Give my love to all inquiring friends and keeping a portion to your own dear self Good bye

                                                                                               

Your ever afectinate Cousin

And^w

 

To Cousin Nan                                                                                                

 

[margin] Please excuse bad writing & spelling as it was wrote in hast just consider where it came from

 

[front margin] Ho Nan the cars are comeing dont you hear them run or you will be too late but dont hurt yourself geting over the fence An^y           

 

Be sure & write soon  Good Bye

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