McFarland-Russell Letter, August 20, 1871

[POSTMARK] ORANGE AUG 21 TEX

Miss Kate McFarland Bleakwood Newton Co Texas

Embossed Letter "R"

Orange. Texas. August 20 1871

Miss. Kate. McFarland

Esteemed Friend

Your most kind and welcome letter of the 13 came to hand last mail and I now seat myself to reply. and I am at a loss to know what to write about. I will try to make my letter as interesting as I can. it has been so long since I have written a letter I have amost forgotten how to write . I did not know what to think of your not writing sooner. but as you have been sick I will look over it. but you must do better in future Kate I tell you. you must do away with that old contract. I thought by your not writing you were offended with me. I have found out better now so I will drop that subject. you took good care but to tell me about the joke Clark got 'on you when he was up there. about you calling him Mr. Russell and asking him if he was just from Orange he says you must have been thinking of me was it so. I didnot[sic] think that you ever thought of me only when you received a letter from me. Though I would infer from that. That you did. I have not delivered your message to Mr. & Mrs. Moore yet. he has not returned from Galveston yet I will call and see them when he returns. I am glad to hear that [Gus?] and Issabell are coming in to see you. you had better try and persuade them to move back to Newton. you said Clark told you that Miss Dora was to be married soon she is not married yet: and I will never believe her and [Tom?] McClannahan will marry until I see them married I don't think he will have her. you said I would have a chance enjoy myself but I dont think there will be much enjoyment there for me as the Girls I love to dance with will not be there they never visit Mrs. Hannahs. old Gov. Woods got married the other day he is about sixty and the woman he married is about twenty-five. his Daughters Mrs. Jack-son & Miss Emma did not like it at all. are any of the Folks up your way going to the Fair in [Jasper?]. I think will have to go to it how would you like to go if you wish to go I will come by for you if you will go with me. Kate Capt Lancaster did not get the

ring last trip as the jeweler does not have the kind he wanted he told him that he had sent on to New York for a new supply and they would be on in a few days so I guess he will get it this trip - Tom has left Victoria he will be home to day or tomorrow he lets on like he don't care anything about home but I know better than that. he loves home as well as the next one. but he dont like to acknowledge it. he went from Victoria to Houston to take charge of an office there I don't know what made him give it out. you can tell your Pa that Mayor Agusten is still living out about Liberty. I don't know his Post office. I guess he can find out by writing to the P.M. at Liberty. Kate you said that not one downhere had asked you to share their heart and home. What you say if I were to ask you to share mine. and would you believe me if I was to tell you I loved you and no other.

Kate I will not send the things that I promised as I have no way to send them. you can let me know before I come up whether you want any thing or not and I can bring it my self. That mail carrier they have in jail is a bad man I would not trust him with any thing. if all reports are true if they give him justice they will hang him. old Leander Fuller has come down after his wife since [Lundy?] was [drown?]. I don't know whether she will go with him or not. I was very sorry to hear that you have been sick you must quit that way you have of [doing?]. I am in better health now than I have been for five years. I think my last trip up to Newton must have cured me. it is either that or hard work I tell you I have just linked right down to it every[sic] since I came home from Newton and I expect to keep at it for awhile yet. you said you hoped I would enjoy myself better the next time I come up. I assure you I never enjoyed myself better in my life thatn I did when up there. Well as I have told you all that I can think of at present I will hold up you will find inclose[sic] in this one long Balad[sic] and if you will write soon I will send some more. Kindest regards to all. I will [illegible] up by asking you to excuse all errors write soon to your Sincere Friend R.E. Russell