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up from the spring on the bank of the river
little alligators- then put them back again and
when they are grown we can hear them bellow.
Our flowers are progressing [illegible] - I have a
gentleman friend in San Francisco - Cal -
who knows & [illegible] sends me specimens of the
California flowers- he also sent me some of the
Sandwich Island Cotton - it is very beautiful-
he says it is used only for stuffing though-
Cushions mattrasses [illegible] because the fibre of the cotton
does not possess requisite strength for spinning-
What a pity it is that nature did not give it the necessary
strength so that it could be spun & made into beautiful
fabrics which in appearances would be nearly equal
to silk- He states that if he had a cutting of our
Cloth of Gold then he could sell each row from
one to five dollars each & Roses are very rare and scarce, there
& readlily sold for the most exorbitant prices- Boquets sell from
four bits to $50 a piece. -Also has seen Apples and Pears from
Oregon sell for one dollar each in New York a sixpense
would be a high price for either. [illegible] I [illegible]
I fear this will be too late for the mail now- Write me
soon & a good long letter- tell the 'Major' for me
I will write him soon- Love to your Dear Brother
& Father - kindest wishes and blessings to all from
Bella
Monticello To my Cousin [illegible] [illegible]
Excuse [illegible] -my panhandle ^{inch long -} so [illegible] [Illegible] [Illegible]