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A19B1F2bD10Sep1871p1
[POSTMARK ORANGE SEP 11]
Miss Kate McFarland Bleakwood Newton Co Texas
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[Embossed "R" on back of envelope]
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Orange, Orange County Texas Sept 10 1871
Miss Kate McFarland
Dear Friend
I received very kind and interesting letter last mail and I will try and answer it this evening. you will have to excuse bad writing as my hands are very sore and stiff. I have been working very hard here of late and as the saying is, it has sallivated my hands. yes the old saying is make hay while the sun shines. so I will work by that rule a while. work while I can make good wages and lay in the shade while vines are dull. I can make from two to three dollars per day and I think that that is better saved than lost. I want to keep at work about one month longer and then I am going up to Newton. will you be ready to come home with me by the middle of October. Kate you must tell your Ma & Pa about it and see what they have to say, as I have never mentioned the subject to either of them. when I was up there I did not have any Idea of marrying so soon or I would have said something about it. so you will have to talk to the old folks up there and I will do the talking down here. I have already spoken to May & Pa about it. and they seem to be very well pleased. They said suit myself and they had not a word to say. Julia is going to move down town the first of next year. and Ma says she wants us to live with her. She says she cant bear to see us all base her so I guess I will have to live at home with the old Folks. I am going to make her give the house up to us so she can go with Pa when ever she feels like it. The way she is situated now she thinks that she can't leave home atall. She says if we are going to marry she wants us to marry by the middle of October and her old Pa can come up, and it would be impossible for her to leave home after that time, Kate I hope you will not be offended with me for letting them into the secret for I think it was my duty to do so. and I hope you will do the same and let me know by return mail what the old folks have to say about the matter. I would be very glad to know that it will be agreeable with them, Ma told me to say to you if you needed any thing to let her or Sue know it and they would get it for you and Ma can bring it when she comes.
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Well Kate I guess I had better drop that subject for the present and study up some thing else to write about. tomorrow the big Barbecue comes off Oh what would I give if you were just here to go with me. all hands are busy making preparations They began cooking the meats to day at twelve o clock. all hands are anticipating a great deal of pleasure, you wanted to know what was said to Mrs Polk about your eyes. I cannot tell you what it was unles it was something I was telling about my fortune dont you know my sweet heart had purpil eyes. you must not think any thing about that for it was all a joke who was telling you about what Victoria said please tell me that. Oh yes I will [ ? ] that other secret that you said [ ? ] [ ? ] Lady told you to tell me in the course of a year so you might as well out with it at once and be done with it. I hope it is nothing bad. you said that Miss Nina told you that Mr Stone & Miss Sue Adams were about to make true the reports. when will the wedding come off, you also spoke of the R[? ] [ ? ] you said you did not care to see them you gathered the last yesterday. I thought that R[? ] [ ? ] [ ? ] gone long ago.it has been three weeks since I saw one. plenty of [ ? ] yet. we have had up grandly of Plums this year. it looks like we have blest with health this Summer. you know as a general thing when we have good crops of fruit we all ways have a great deal of sickness. little Robert has been sick for some time if there isnt a change soon I think they will loose him. he has been sick about three weeks and he had fallen off to a perfect skeleton, have you heard form Gus & M since you told me they wrote they were coming. Oh yes by the way since you take your trip over the river as you expected, will state I believe that I have written all that I can think of, you must be sure and do what I told you and let me hear from you next mail. when was Miss Lizzie and Miss Ann at home. and when are their schools out. you must write me a good long letter and tell me all the news tell Mag she must be a good Girl and not tease Kittie too much if she dont I will settle with her. Tell her that I have not heard from Mag. When I was up there. yes and you did not tell mother secret that Mag told when she says let me see your letter and I will tell you the rest could you next visit with it. kindest regards to all. good by wrote soon to your Sincere friend
R. E. Russell