Port Oak Spring (Boerne, Kendall Co.)

Nov 21, 1865.        

    

Mr. E. C. Whorton

                       

My Dear Sir:—Your letter of the 3^d inst. brought to Galveston by Mr. Richardson came duly to hand. I had also received a previous letter from you brought by some unknown person. Some time since a letter from N.O. was handed to a neighbor of mine while he was in San Antonio on his way up, while running cattle. he lost his coat, wallet—all: my letter of course. I shall always think it was from Mr. Holbrook I am as ignorant of its contents as I am of the true author of the letters of [?]

 

            Your last letter to me gave both pain and pleasure—pain to think that Mr. Holbrook should have thought I ever doubted his entire fidelity  and friendship for me, and pleasure to think that I could at once disabuse him of any such impression. At all times and in all places—through good and through evil report—I have never labored—or even have harbored a thought that he was [?]ing for me or for [?] favorite [?]. What tales of  [?] may have reached you and him to the contrary I have no doubt—there always have been, always will be mischief-makers, whose role vocation and business it is to brew hard feelings among friends—to go about hastening embarrassments and estrangements and [?] no other than false or bad eggs on which to indulge their incubatory propensities. if I may be permitted to use a word not found in the dictionary, no neither in thought, word or deed have I given Mr. Holbrook cause for uneasiness or concern, and I pray you to tell him so at once.

 

            I have had a long and difficult part to play during the last three or four years as you can well imagine. If I have been asked once I have been asked a thousand times as to my business in N. Orleans: my answers have invariably been the same—that I know nothing of my affairs in that city and in thus answering I told but the simple truth. I had my own thoughts, and those thoughts were ever that Mr. Holbrook would do all for me and my interests that a man could do. But in the matter of criticising his acts I have been as reticent as a dumb bell—as silent as a statue. But it is needless to say more at present. in three or four weeks health and Providence permitting I shall be in New Orleans and among you all. /

 

            Mrs. K. and Georgina will probably accompany me, and the latter I shall place in some school, either in N. Orleans or Mobile, to finish her education—in the latter city, in all likelihood, if my sister is there. Georgina has grown up to be almost a woman—stout and hearty, can milk the cows cook a meal of victuals, and make my shirts and pantaloons. in short, is a tolerably good housewife. Not that her education in other respects been altogether lost sight of, for she reads, writes and speaks English, French and German, the one as well as the other, and is moreover a musician of no ordinary proficiency for her age and opportunities. Billy and Fletcher my boys are now out with sheep—each with his flock. They are also well skilled in English, French and German, and otherwise fairly educated, but must soon be sent to school. We all have worked—we still work—as we cannot procure help. But I trust we shall ere long procure find assistance: first, we can get slaves. As for myself, never indolent, I have toiled, early and late, since the war began!

 

            "E'en Sunday chimes entone no holiday to me." with the breaking out of hostilities. But I am still strong, tough and hearty—have been rowing and ploughing in wheat all day—write this by candle light—and expect to be up and at it by day break to-morrow morning. The war has used me badly, as it has all most [?]; yet with a continuance of my present health and strength for a couple of years, I can at least partially make up for past losses, and go ahead again.

 

            I see the Weekly Pic. occasionally—not regularly. With the leading articles in such numbers as I have received I have been more than gratified: have admired their spirit & tone & temper. It needs but a continuation of such articles to raise the paper to a higher pinacle in the estimation of the true man of the South than it ever before reached, and a larger circulation as well.

 

            My wife desires to be remembered to you and yours and I am, as ever,

                                                                                               

Your friend truly,

Geo. Wilkins Kendall

 

(you can hand this to Mr. Holbrook, with the memorandum: also to Mr. W[?]

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