McFarland-Russell Letter, February 25, 1881 - Page 1

Newton Texas
Feb 25 1881

Mrs Kate C. Russell

Dear Sister

I know you wonder
why I don't write, and if it was not that I
know you wish to hear I could not write
I have been sick for Two weeks not confined to
my bed but not able to do any thing I took
cold and it has fallen in my back & bowels
There is no one that knows how I have suffered
and yet suffer. I would not be so bad
off if I was all right but as it is it is allmost
death I will soon be all right I hope I was
affraid it would cause comsumption but so far
I have no symtoms of that dreaded desease
Hoy & Tommie are well excepting colds Mr Smith
has been half sick ever since he returned home from
the west, Tho he is plowing he can not hire a
hand to work, And every Darkie is nearly
on the starve,

Mr Smith went down to the sale he
bought some Books and the book case and the