McFarland-Russell Letter, August 27, 1871

[POSTMARK] Orange Tex Aug 28

Miss. Kate, McFarland Bleakwood Newton County Texas

[Embossed Letter "R"]

I would buy the music box from Mrs. A, but whats the use I can hear it play when ever I want to so I think I will save my money for a better use. Though it makes very sweet music it is more like Pianno[sic] music than any other I ever heard. Kate if you just only lived near I could make you so many nice Presents I have a pair of little glass [Gaiters?] that I bought for you. They are filled with very nice Perfumery one is Sweet Pink & the other is Resida. I don't think that I ever saw any of that kind before. you ought to be down here to go to the show it commences tomorrow night. They are the same troop that were in Newton afew[sic] days ago. I will try and make good use of my time this evening as I am all alone the Boys have all gone off down town and left me so I have nothing to bother me and I will give you a long letter last Sunday I was bothered so I could hardly write. So you would know better what to say if you knew that I really meant what I said. Kate do you think that I would say such a thing if I did not mean it. I thought you knew me better than that. So you may know how to answer now for I mean just exactly I say. if you don't go to the Fair with me I will not go. I don't care to go unles[sic] you will go. you said you would like to know the tune to the song I sent you. you are to[sic] hard for me there, I don't khow the tunes to any songs me myself. I never sing there is no such thing as music in my composition and I thought you knew that. I will send you another this time and you can take care of them and mabe[sic] some day you may learn the air to them. you must learn Sam better than to take your letters and keep them from you. so you were really disappointed when Mag told you there was no letter for you. I didnot[sic] think that your[sic] not getting a letter me would be such a great disappointmint[sic] to you. tell Mag I say she had better quit teasing you if she dont I will get after her and see What she will have to say to that. tell Ma to be sure and come down. Yes Kate I believe you would be happy if your Ma could just get well once more. I know there nothing that would please me better than to hear of her recovery I know I would be very unhappy if Ma ^was^ in her situation and the only thing that will do your Ma any good is to travel. I fear she will not live long if she stays there you see if you cant get your Pa to take her off some where. Well Kate I believe I have told you all the news that I can think of this time so I will try and finish without another sheet tell your Ma I will sind[sic] the brandy by the mailcarrier tomorrow. I will [tuck?] the [dimensions?] of [ring?] [at?] head of letter. Please excuse all errors and mistakes and I will do the same. Present my kindest regards to all. Write soon and give me a good long letter. good evening Miss Kate Your Sincere Friend R.E. Russell

Orange. Orange County. Texas. Aug. 27, 1871

Miss. Kate. McFarland [Inserted sketch and pencilled notations - Please let me know right away whether it is large enough so if it is not I can send it back [drawn circle with "diameter" and [width] written inside circle]

Dear Friend I am once more the happy recipient of an other one of your very kind and intresting[sic] letters. and am almost at a loss to know what to write about. Though I will try and muster up something that will interest you. you wound up by asking me to write a good long letter so I will try and do so as it is your request. you know how well you if you dont I will show you. I received your ring yesterday it is a very heavy one. I will give you the dimentions[sic]of it by letter and if it will not do I can send it back and exchange for an other. you will find the exact diameter of it at the bottom of the letter so if it is not large enough please send me the exact diameter. so I will have no trouble of getting it the right size. tell your Ma that there is no Jamaca[sic] rum in town and there is no Brandy labeled French brandy so I will send her the best Cognaiac[sic]. Dr. [Hewson?] says that that cough medicine I was telling your Ma about is to be used with an inhaler so it will be of no use to her as she has not got the inhaler. Dr. [Hewson?] says if it is nothing but the Bronchitis she has that ^that^ can be cured. he says she ought by all means send for some competent Physician or if she is able to travel to go to one he says he dont think the Drs. in that section keep up with the times. he says if your Ma is not able to travel it will not cost over fifty dollars to have [crossed out text - one?] Dr go from here up there. and after they see the [patient?] and find out the nature of the case they will no[sic] exactly how to treat it. if she wont send for a Dr. keep teasing her until you get her to come down here tell her [that?], Ma. says for her to be sure and come. That she thinks the change will do her good. Well Kate I have just got back from dinner as to days Sunday and all hands at home They gave us fried chicken for dinner and you may believe I got my share. Tom is at home now must I tell him what you said. he had some pictures taken this morning and I tried to get him to give me one but he said they were all given away I was going to send it to you if he had [have?] given it to me but I did not tell Him so if I had I guess he would have given it to me Mrs. Anderson has an Album with a music box in it she has just returned from Galveston and She all ways finds something pretty when ever she goes. I did think that