Prairie Cottage Dec. 17th 1855
Very Dear Sister
Your letter written Thanksgiven eve has been received, and read with much pleasure. I was very glad to hear that you all enjoyed the day. It was quite too bad that you and Mother did not except of the Shirley invitation to spend Thanksgiven. I hope that you did not think so much of the happiness of my children, as to sacrifice your own for their behalf; if you did I am very sorry indeed because in all probability it will be so cold through the winter that you and Mother, can not enjoy yourselves in visiting them, and then you know they will expect a visit from you. I thought too, that Father was to make that visit with Mother, but I suppose that you would almost as soon think of raising the dead, as you would of getting him so far from his place of nativity.
I regret exceedingly that Mary has been so unfortunate. I really think that you ought to take pity on Mr L T— and cheer him in some of his lonely hours by giving him your hand, if not your heart. 22d— Before I proceed I must tell you, that our Gentleman boarders have finnished and left, and that I have paid them in full by draft. Also that I have got my house all cleaned and my Oil cloth down on the hall floor, and that it looks nicely. Mr and Mrs Ryan came and spend a day with us when we were in the midst of housecleaning. Tell father that we have shipped 147 bales of Cotton to Byrne Vance & Co. and that I wrote them not to sell it, without it would demand a pretty fair price. Also that I have not heard one word from Campbell—Strong respecting the insurance on that cotton. but that I still think I may get some of it, as the publick opinion is generally in my favor and that if Campbell & Strong do not collect it it will be a very great disadvantage to them. I have forgotten what I wrote last, perhaps this is only a reputition . Reuben is very much pleased indeed with his new Gin House. We can gin now eight bails a day. We have not finished picking cotton yet when we get it all gined I will write you the number of bales. Cousin Susan is quite well now. She says that she has had some very severe attack of the neuralgia some two or three years since.
26th Morning after Christmas as you will preceive and a very cold one too, mercury is down to 12, and every thing is frosen up. Well Miss Kirkwood is here, she came Monday eve. She is now in her room, and Cousin Susan is in hers, hearing Hines read, but he wants to be naughty this mornig as I indulged him yesterday being Christmas. So I thought I would improve my time by scribbling a few lines to you. I forgot to say that the ground was covered with snow. The servants however are very busy in preparing to give a great supper, and as a matter of course have a great dance to . You wished to know who was C. favored one, it was one of the workmen, I do not know however as any thing will ever come to light. She seems now, much better, and more cheerful than at one, time. There has been various kinds of medicines seen about, procured by him no doubt, perhaps it has had the desired affect, time however will decide the case. Tell Victoria I received a letter from her a few days since, and will answer it when I fell mor at leasure . I have not received but one letter from 3Bs and that was soon after my arrival. I have not heard one word from Mattie. I thought she would have written me. I wrote I should think a month or six weeks since wishing to know if they would like to have me ship the remains of her Mother, or whether they would rather run the risk of my bringing them on, provided the river was it boating order, & &--
I forgot to say that you done perfectly right, under the circumstances, in letting Victoria in on the secret. Hines hung up his stocking and on Christmas eve and to his great joy he found in it next mornig and Orange, Cake, Candy, Raisins, and a half dollar he said that he was perfectly satisfied, he thought he had a plenty. I got him a little Rocking chair when I went to the Bluff, so we are all provided with Rocking chairs. Thursday afternoon Mr G. D. Atkins has just left. he has given me his note for one thousand dollars bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent. Miss Kirkwood is in Cousin Susans room. and as Orren talks of going to the Bluff in the morning I will try and finnish this scrowl . Well the servants all had a great Supper last eve. I should think there were about one hundred present. Miss K Cousin S Hines & myself all went to see them dance. We all enjoyd it very much, and as a matter or course they did. O dear me I cannot think of any thing to write. I persume that Miss K. and Cousin S. would like to be rememberd . My love to all. Tell Marshall that Mother thinks of him very often if Hines is here. Hines still continues to read and spell twice a day, we think he is improving some. he often speaks of you all and says that he does not like Arkansas as well as he does Bridgeport because there are not so many people here, and, also that he does not like our house at all, that it is nothing but a hut and that he wants to have a knew one built. one day he said that almost any thing was good enough for this hut. Cousin Susan asked him what he thought of us all he said that he thought we were altogether to good for the hut. I persume you all feel very much edified. Remember me to Bridget— I wish you all a happy New Year.
A.B. Trulock