McFarland-Russell Letter, August 2, 1887

Newton Co Texas Aug 2 1887

Mrs Kate C Russell

Dear Sister I have been trying to get a chance to write to you for months I know you feel badly slighted but if you knew you would not mind Mary has been sick ^so^ often we could hardly get the chills and fever cured before they were ba ck again then I have had [ten?] spells of chils and fever. the last three were bone fever. Oh how wearing they are. the baby has a cold she is a perfect baby she never cries. her name is Donna. Tell Donna Stark we have given baby her name Kate [illegible] Ingraham was tell-

[Missouria?] you was in bad health What seems to be the matter if it is a heart or Liver com plaint I have a reciept perhaps good I feel like it would be very beneficial I will write it off and if you do not make it out let me know I have it pasted in my scrap book.

[Missouria?] was up a week ago Miss Mary [Moore?] was out to see me sunday. she is just the same only a little older, if you can I wish you could come up to see me I would be delighted the weather will soon get cooler. [Serg?] said you said you were not able to write now that is all stuf for you would have written if it was 82 Bobwould ^have^ know now if I had any news to write I would write a splendid letter but it is the same dul old place just like

old Newton nothing to see nothing to hear and but very little to think of with the thought I have my hands full I milk five cows and they are so tires som[sic] besides all the other house work. ^If^ The baby was not so good I would go crazy I reckon. The boys are at home for a month Oh Mary is so ill since she was sick Oh yes Donna has black hair & Eyes She is very prettie Well I must quite writeing[sic] write and tell Bob to write Our Love to the children allso for Yourself Oh the pictures are so natural the children so pretty the baby so sweet

Your Sister Affect Maggie Smith

Reciept [Receipt]

Enemeta of sulphuretted Hydrogen and carbonic Dioxide gases as a cure for consumption

If used, get a Physician to prepare it The reciept [receipt] does [illegible] state any thing else nor how to use it now if you want the original reciept [receipt] say so.