McFarland-Russell Letter, July 20, 1886

Newton County Texas July 25 1886

Mrs Kate C Russell

Dear Sister

I had just decided to write you when I received your long looked for letter, I am sorry your health is so bad, If a person was rich bad health would be a Luxury but when it is the reverse it is all most torture of the soul, My health was very annoying awhile back. I thought it was consumption but Doctored some and and my cough has quit. I think if a person would attend to a cough in time they would not suffer so much before their time for dieing with consumption come.

Well I am glad your Baby is a portly baby They do so much better, mary is standing by me bothering so I can not get a sentence right she can talk very plain she is a healthy child she is a great deal larger than Lavina was when you were here. She says (Diddent Aunt Kate give it me) that is when the Boys are teasing her about something she has.

Floz & Tomie have gone ox hunting they are happy when in the woods, I know the little

girls are proud of their Brother, Tell them to watch him and take care of him now, and after awhile he will take care of them

We are having very warm weather now I do not have a chance to enjoy my self atall We have no fruit this year but apples and they are too sour, I know you fancy your Jersey cow. But I have one cow that gives with a young calf a gallon out of Two Teats If we took the calf from her she would give Two gallons you see she gave a gallon every morning and at night a half gallon.

Well every body is surpassing me in every thing I failed on the chickens this year, But I tried hard enough to raise them. I have ever so much work to do now all the house work cooking milking washing and scouring and for six weeks or more all the wood to get. Mr Smith has been unwell for some time he had three carbunkles on his wrist, then a bone fellon it has not got well yet. Then in the time between the Carbunkles and fellon a cow run over him knocked him down and turned a summersault and his weight and her all on his write sprained it badly. now he has just broken his chills &

Fannie & Mary have had sores too, and I have found nothing good for them only starch, I must close for this time here comes old Auntie Lena.

Here I am again Tuesday morning, all tolerably well, I suppose you have heard of the death of Major Moore, Dropsy was the desease and probly old age. There is a decease in the neighborhood of Powells Mill, that Dr Leastrunk pronounses Colra in a mild form, so I hear. Tommie & Floy says Tell all of you to come up and bring baby. I can not go down to see you this year can not tell if ever, Mr Smith has decided the best place for me is home and I guess it is. I can not even get to go down to see Ed If I could get some one to take me I could go, but who wants to accomodate me. I can wait on ever body that comes and deprive myself for others, but they think it is their due, do not feel any gratitude it is the way of the world, the way of the world to forget. Kate I am nearly blind at times in the day I can see of course but there is a glimmer over all things small print more together but at night I can read well.

Mr R P Wingate is here at this time he is

looking very well he says Sam is bleeding at the lungs some and reports crops very good the storms did some damage here such as tearing down fences and corn

I had not heard before you wrote of Sara marring, whom did she get,

Ed never comes out but I do not blame him at all. but it does hurt me. he was all ways my favorite Brother, but I know why he does not come. so that helps matters but some time they all conserned will be as the poet said "In the dead unhappy night when the rain is on the roof xxx and thou shalt hear the never, never, xx do you know it Tennysons Locksly Hall,

Well you must write soon and often, but I would be so glad if you could come. I never hear from Solome, and Frances Fuller has been confined to her Bed she miscarried about two weeks ago.

The time for me to quite has dawned if my letter is dull you can draw a comparison see if there is any other way for it to be

I do not fancy the stories in the poast the Beginning nor ending.

I hope for something better in, allmost last, all join in good wishes to you and family Mary says she wants rite to an' Kate

My Love to you all ever your Sister affectionate Maggie