McFarland-Russell Family Papers

on the notion of visiting Orange tell that you think a trip away from home will benefit her health and then mabe[sic] she will get in the notion of coming. you must not forget to send me your Photograph when you have them taken I would like to have all of your Pictures to put in my Album. Miss Kate you must [sic] me this time and I will try and do better in the future. Present our kindest regards to all the Family. Write soon good by[sic]

Your True Friend Robert E. Russell

ORANGE TEX. MAY 15

Miss. Kate. McFarland Bleakwood Newton. County Texas

Orange. Orange. County, Texas, May 14th, 1871. Miss Kate McFarland

Respective Friend your most kind and welcome letter of the eleventh was received yesterday. I assure you that it was quite a welcome surprise you know you said that you would not write any more for about three weeks so I was not expecting a letter so soon. so I was not so very particular about going to the office. and to as I was walking around town last night I happened to go in there and Miss Sid Scott says Bob I believe there is a letter here for you. I told her that she must be mistaken and she said no she was not. she went in the office got the letter for me. you May surprise me in that may just as often as you please nothing pleases me better. and you may defend it does not worry my patience to read your letters it doesnot make any difference how long they are the longer the better. you asked me if I learned my letters nonsense. no not all together but I do think some of them are you know some times I am not in a writing mood and I have to study up some thing to fill up my letters worth but y you must look over that and all other errors and I will do the same. that is if there is any. you spoke of an old friend and Schoolmate in your letter but you did not give her name why does she have to leave her Western home

,, how did the fishing party come out did they catch any fish ,, I went fishing my self yesterday and I never had better luck in my life. there was five of us and caught about one hundred an seventy five in about two hours and they were the finest I ever saw. you said that your letter would be so unexpected that I would not have time to appreciate its contents but I can assure you they were. and you need not comply with my [illegible] unless you want to. no Kate you misunderstood me if you thought I said that Orange was the garden spot of Texas one of the healthiest places in, Tex. and the best poor mans country there is in the State any body that will just half way try can make a good living as for my past I have seen many prettier places than Orange but I will risk my chances in Orange every time and we have we have some as good people here as ever lived in any country. so you think as there is so much amusement in O. that I only visit when I am lonely or tiered no that is not so for I assure you that amusement of any kind has no charms for me when I can have the pleasure of writing to you I decline all when it comes to that. and you will never find me too worried or tiered to answer as many letters as you will write. and as for the Beautiful faces I sent at the Picnic and dance the have no charms for me. I am very glad to hear that you have been enjoying yourself so well I should like very much to have been with you I know I would have enjoyed myself with you, I am in hopes you will have a fine time up on thickets[?]. Henry + Sue will move tomorrow I have not told her

what you told me to tell her I will tell her this evening you are of my [illegible] exactly. I think that all married folks should have a home of their own. Kate. Sue, is not the happy no more she looked to be when you saw her. she is not of a very happy [illegible]. Henry has one of the prettiest places in Town. I also have a very pretty place which I am going to build on this Fall. There is a house on it but it is not much account so I will just have that torn down and have a good put up and be done with it. I cannot rent it for half its value or account of the house not bing very good Dr. Heewson has that Medicine I will get it and send it up by [illegible] Starks this time. tell your Ma not to hesitate a moment when she [illegible] anything from Orange if she will let me know. it will be a great pleasure to me to get anything she neads. We are going out a Socilizeg this evening on the Schooner soon + After I hope we will have a good breeze so we can enjoy the Sail. we are going to have a dance this week Shall I dance some for you. I will tell you before hand this time so you cant grumble about it how will that do. you see if I do write every week that dont keep one from writing long letters I am afraid I worry your patience with them [illegible] do. dont hesitate to tell me so and I can write shorter ones well Kate I believe I have told you all the news so I will have to write [illegible] you must look over all mistakes. kindest regards to all the Family write soon Good by

I remain your True Friend R.E.R.

PS. I got that medicine and gave it to Jenny

and if you dont send me your Picture I won't write you any more long letters. Kate you said that I must excuse bad writing so you must do the same for I won't promise you that I will ever do any better for I could not if I were to try so we both will make that agreement, you must also excuse foolscap as my Initial Paper is not large enough for as long a letter as I will write this evening. I saw Miss Annie & Miss Zoe Wintyelle at church today I guess you are acquainted with them they use to live in Newton. I think Miss Annie is much the best looking, by the way.

Mr. H. S. was down last week and I got after him about what you told me and he denied the charge, though I never told him who told me so I should rather think it was Miss Cochron than Miss F if reports are true. So you think it is a long time before Peaches ripen do you. you might see me before that time for all you know. tell your Ma, she must excuse me for telling that story Will got off Monday morning before I got to see him and as you have made the Syrup your self I will not send her any. please let me know if it does her any good, tell me who that young man was that had Mands picture I have not said any thing to her about it yet. Kate you judge me harshly you said that expected I had half Dozen other Correspondents that I would rather read letters from than to read yours. I assure you that that, that is not so, I judge from what you say that your letters are one secret you keep from Mag you told me when I was there that you told her all of your secrets and she kept hers to herself that's right keep one secret from her

and don't let her tease you too much. I want you to be sure and send me that photograph tell Mag I would like to have hers also. I want to show them to some of these Orangeites some of them seem to be bothered a great deal about my affairs. Please do not think that I want your picture just for a show for that is not so. Well, Kate, believe I have written all that I can think of at present or in other words quite enough of my nonsense don't you think so. Please excuse all errors as I am willing to be forgiven. Write soon and tell me all the news. Kindest regards to all good by I remain your most sincere friend,

Robert E. Russell

Orange. Orange Co. Texas July, 16th 1871

Miss Kittie McFarland Dear Friend I returned home last Thursday. I found all well except Sue. She has the Chills & fever but she is getting well now. The old lady [Holms?] died the [crossed out "the"] evening I got home she was sick when I left but I did not think that there was anything very serious the matter with her. I found your highly appreciated letter all right. and also one from Walter. I thought mabe[sic] some of the family might open my letters while I was gone but they did not for a wonder. The Thespean Society were through with three new plays before I got home. but that was nothing to me they may play forty times if the[sic] choose and I don't think any of them will enjoy them selves better there than I did while I was in the Pine Woods. I must say I never spent a more pleasant time in my life you may dispute it if you will but it is positively so I got along so well I think I will have to go again, soon. on Tuesday after I left your Pas I went over and took dinner with Miss Laura [Right?] and after dinner her and I rode over to the Cochrans to see the young Ladies. I saw the so called beauty Miss Lydia I do not think her pretty by any means. The youngest Miss Jane would be a great deal the prettiest if she did not have such a large mouth. but as it is it is hard to decide which is the best looking . well I guess I will drop that subject for the present and see if I cant find something more interesting. I stopped and took dinner with the Bride and Groom as I came down that day. My mare got a way from me there and she would have gone up to Pinetucket if it hadnt been for Ed. West he [put?] out after her and over took her about a mile from there. and that evening I got a ducking. poor little me are you not sorry for me. I know I would be for you if you were to get a ducking. Kate I tell you old Orange is improving I never saw the like of strangers as there is coming in. and all the [lower?] [illegible] of Newton is going to move down I think you had better moove[sic] too dont you.

how are you getting along now since you have got rid of such a pest Rob. I dont want you and Mag to hurt yourselves drawing water. Kate you must not allow Mag to tease you too much. Kate tell me the truth what were you looking so sad about the morning I left it certainly was not because I was leaving. you were looking very sad about some thing. you must cheer up and quit looking that way. it seemed to me like I was leaving home that morning when I left . Some of the folks were very much surprised When I came home. they thought I had gone of to get married but I fooled them that time . I will get some of the Girls to write off those songs I promised you I will send then up next mail. The name of that plant I was telling you about is [Tania?] it come from Mrs. [Grimes?] I told her the first chance she got to send you some of it and she said she would do so with the greatest of pleasure. how is Ma is she improving any tell her that Ma says she must be sure and come just as soon as she gets able to travel. tell her that she thinks she will get well right a way you must keep teasing her til she does come. tell her if there is any thing in Orange that she wants, to let me know and I will get it for her. we would be very glad to have her come and stay a month or two with us if she would just make up her mind to leave home. Kate I believe it is more trouble than anything else that is the matter with her. Pa did not have quite Irons enough in the fire he has sent for a Shingle Machine he thinks he will have it up and running in five or six weeks. as the old saying is the more a body has the more they want and I think that is the way with him. well if he succeeds he will make a great deal of money. for there is more money in Shingle Machines than there is in anything else in this county. well Kate this is a great letter but I cant help it I am bound to fill up with something I cant bare[sic] to see short letters you bet I miss the fruit cant you send me some peaches do please. The Evening after I got home I went down and brought Miss Fannie up to Aunt Laura and we had some music her and I were the musicians she played on the accordion while I [fanned?] her and Me and [illegible] danced

Kate I tell you [Bec?] & Fannie play it old. he [way lays?] the road he met me that eveing when I was going in to Mrs Smiths and asked me where I was going I says I am going there but did not tell him that Miss Fannie and I were going any where and when her and I started here come Bec puffing like he was out of breath and we asked him what was the matter and he said that a Cow got after him and run him up that way we then told him to come along with us and we would keep the Cows off of him. he was all right then I tell you the old woman would give me fits if she knew it. you bet we man -age to keep it a secret. I also saw Miss [Zennie?] & Miss Rebecca. I think [Gwen?] and Beck are going to give us a wedding this week. tell Mag that Walter wont be home before September tell her she must not cry about it. if she cries tell her who said you wouldnt. well Kate I think I have written quite enough nonsense for one time. I could fill up this sheet but enough is enough of anything. Kate you must not get mad at my rough jokes. allow me to speak freely and you may do the same. Kindest regards to all tell Ma to be sure and come Good by[sic] write soon to your true Friend Robert E. Russell