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rattlesnake which he has had for several months trying to see
how long it will live without food, he also has a wolf and a
wildcat. The Alligators are very plenty that is in the swamps
we never see any little ones unless the boys bring them out of
the swamps. I saw a good many large ones last summer
swimming across the river in search of dead hogs &c.
White Cranes (such is the name they have here) we often see
they are supposed to come up from the bay and Pelicans too
sometimes; though we never see pelicans unless there has
been a violent storm, but Cranes we may see at allmost any
time of the year. I saw a dead one, once, that one of the boys
had shot; it had slender blue legs a red bill, blue eyes with
pink rings around them; its neck and whole body was very
graceful I thought it was the most beautiful creature I had
ever seen. We live in the corporation but some distance
from the other dwellings. Pa has eighty acres of beautiful land
lying down along the river adjoining Monticello. We have no
orchard of apple trees but have about twenty or thirty apple
trees that we had grafted last summer and some fine pear
trees and plum trees that were imported from France.
We have an orchard of Peachtrees though; I believe that worms
have been known to injure appletrees. I am now doing a
little of everything but have not had time to study anything
since Belle was married. Belle showed me your letter
she and her husband are very much pleased with it.
Now Cousin mine, I believe I have answered all your
questions, and I hope they are all answered to your satisfaction
Have you got a Sunday school near you? we have and it