Letter to Dora from Mary Minerva Harbison, 1857

Cape Girardeau Mo October 17th 1857

My Dearest friend I received your kind letter week before last but I thought I would wait untill the fair was over so I could tell you something the fair was last week it commenced thursday and was three days. Sara and Sis went the first day but Ma nor me went Pa went ever day Ma had a carpet there. Cousin Thomas was here and two of the prettyest lamp mats you ever saw and a knit cap and babys shirt worked so pretty. Mrs. Swan up by Jackson got the premium on a pair of hoes and on a shirt and on peaches and she had a carpet but she did not get the premium nor Ma neither. Mrs Crow at Benton got the premium on the carpet. ODora Ma was to Jackson two or three weeks ago to a big meeting she saw Miss Green she said that she had the chills every other day you know that is her {thoid?}. Ma said that she said she wanted to see us all so bad O Dora she is going to teach school up by Mr. Ben Millers and you know she said she would not teach no more and what do you think Sara Joe is teaching school up to her grandfathers dont you reckon she will flirt when she comes home and Betty Thomson is going up to pleasent hill to hook the cape is not big enough for her she wants to go to some place better Sinia English is going to the Cape to school. we are building the new house with five roomes down stairs and so upstairs and they have got it up tolerable high they have got the front door and two windows in aint they geting along rite fast for one ma and two boys

Ma says give her to them all and tell Pa that she will write some of these days before long. I tell you we will be glad when the new house is done. last sunday Uncle Henry and Cousin Thomas and Cousin Burk and Mr Brock from Benton and Mr{ Melson?} and Dr Davis and Mr Barber and Frank was {here ----?} is close to Sara now he lives at Mr Gibboneys and he has been over here twice Mrs Byrne was over here yesterday and Sara went home with her O Dora we have got some of the nicest haws I wish you was here to get some of them and we have some walnuts and hickernuts. dont you think Betty Hutcherson went to the fair one day I believe I am rite smart better I had one spell this morning and one day before yesterday I have to bathe ever night and morning and take pills three time a day. Dora ever time I think about you I allmost cry and when I think about you and those girls haveing such nice times I begrudge it to them to think they can be with you and I cant I could allmost come up there and bite their heads off. Ma says to tell your Ma that she has made forty yards of carpet and she is going to make some more. Mr. Phillipson told Ma that he was going to bring Lizzie home with him and I was glad because I thought you would come to some times. I have never seen Ada since I received your letter I am makeing. we had frost here this morning for the first time and my feet and hands keep so cold I can hardly write and I cant think of nothing no how so what must I do I never will write as good a letter as you for you can make anything out of nothing short covered short insomuch. tell Anna to hurry and learn to write and write to me Dora I know that I want to see you and Anna better than any body in the world so I -

before long you will see me and Sara comeing up there and then. you and Anna must come back a kitering. Do you tell Ti to get married and live in the Cape and have you with her so I can get to see you once in awhile for I am all most dead to see you well I believe I have told you all that I can think of so I will quit till the next time you must write soon give my love to all and keep a good for share yourself and tell Aunt Betty that Aunt Malinda is sick and has been for some time I will have to stop so write soon write soon from your affectionate friend Mary Minerva Harbison goodbye sweet Dora