RK-317

Home, Sunday, May 17^th or 18^th ‘57

Dear Bob, There came a scrap from you yesterday – “from the swamps” Always glad to get a line – and I have again half a mind to start off, and visit you, before I return. I have promised mother to go to town to-morrow, and try & hunt up “a girl” - unless Law=rence should succeed to-day – and if I get as far as Chi=cago, and find my pass still good (as I presume it is) it will be no trick, at all, to go on down to Anna – The chief trouble is to get to Chicago. So you may look for me, a litt little, about next Friday or Saturday – and a letter, soon, in case I don’t come.

The Major and Lawrence will not go up north, after Evergreens, this week. The idea now is, to start a week from Wednesday – from Chicago – the 27^th May. That will be early enough I think, - as tis very cold yet, and not a bud started here – and, of course, not there – as the Green Bay region must be a week or two later than this.

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It appears Boats leave, regularly, every Wednesday morning – So you will have plenty time to write, I dare say, in case you can communicate any facts in regard to the places you heard of, or vis=ited – We wish to get small (1 to 3 feet) trees only. Write here, and and also to Chicago – care Charlie Bragdon – “to be held till called for” – or write to Bragdon requesting him to keep letter & give it to Major –

We have to send to Chicago again to-morrow, with about ¼ of a load of trees – Bless that “Professor Kidder”, he has put his order off to the last, when it will [illegible] cost us half the profit to send [illegible] it to him –

We are still selling a few trees every day – none but siberian crabs too much advanced – Lilacks & honeysuckles show leaves, but nothing much else. Mercury 32[degrees] this morning – and very cold cutting wind – The boys find little birds dead – starved or frozen, or both – Three Martins here yesterday, but looked blue and some cleared out – Scarce any birds but snipes &c – a few robins, & some pigeons, flying –

[page turned written on left side] Eight men – part by the day, at high wages, and too cold to plant – Charlie tried it yester=day, - but had to give it up – Got plenty stumps dug, & some drains made, but Char =lie does more than any two of the men – he will work. Mother & the girls have to work now

Robert Kennicott (Care L. W. Ashley) Anna Union Co. Illinois

Prairie Farmer office Chicgo [illegible] all right