A19B1F2bD10Sep1871p3

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.