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"Ridge Pole" Feby. 11th 1866
Dear Sir
Your long & very welcome letter of
the 24th Jany. reached us this morning & made
our hearts glad with news from home & the dear
ones there. we were much amused by your description
of the scene that ensued on your announcement that
Annie & the children had returned to No. Ca. when
the photographs were recd we had been some time
without news & though your letter was two weeks old
it gave us great pleasure especially as you entered
into details. We are very sorry to hear of Ma's
continued sickness but trust she has been releived ere
this by Dr. Strudwicks skill backed by good nursing
Maggie too has been suffering. we sincerely hope she is
now quite well again. As for the rise or fall
of Cotton in future I do not allow myself to speculate
upon it. I have put my all into this undertaking
& it is too late now to look back even if it were advisable
to withdraw. So that my only road to success is through
hard work untiring energy, prudence & economy & with
the blessing of Providence if my health continues good I
have no doubt of a moderate return for my labour
& this is all I expect. The money from Mobile