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Crawfordville Ga 17-March-1845
Dear Brother
Yours of the 10 Inst came to hand this morning and I forgot in my previous letters to say to you that we have a daily mail at this place both up & down.
But there is great irregularity in its distribution. where the fault is I know not. but my Northern letters and papers I believe as often come from the Southern direction as the other. And seldom do I ever get any letter at its right time. I am disposed to think that the fault lies in part at the door of our Post Master in his deputies who are not attentive in opening the mail from Augusta which arrives late at night and when all hands are generally asleep
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For several days I got nothing at all and then I get at once about as much as Bob can bring home. He you know is my mail carrier. Indeed he is a "famous lad" about the town. But since I have set up "Bachelors Hall" I have kept him more at home than was his wont. He is now the main man upon the lot. Attends to the horse and hogs, brings in breakfast -- dinner and supper. Pours out the coffee and waits upon the table. ala mode the boarding house custom. With which he seems to be well pleased. Old Mat cooks and Bob and Pearce do the balance. Who carries the keys I do not know. I have laid in a supply of sugar and Coffee. But when it is kept and who keeps it I do not know. Bob got the box at the Depot and I see him knocking the top and taking "out the things" as he said in the back portico. But that is the
last i have heard of boxcar "things." He told me the other day that he would have to bye some chickens somewhere before long. and I told him to go and bye them-- and we continue to have _chicken_ every day but I cant tell where they come from. Today at dinner we had no body but Pearce to do the serving and when I asked where Bob was he said he was gone to Mill So I inferred the _meal_ had given out or that Bob wanted to air himself with a ride in the country I did not know which -- So you see how I am getting along. My health is tolerable only -- I was quite unwell yesterday and day before but feel much better today -- I took a violent cold at Green Court. It is _now broken_ I hope. -- This is a clear windy pleasant day here -- wind high from the S. West. It is as you see St. Patrick's day which revives some past recollections upon the forwardness of the season compared with others 00 And I think the present is about as forward a spring as I ever saw On the 17 March 1826 I recllected well there a certain tree I know yet was green Thatsame tree I have no doubt is quite green now. I
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The week before last when I went down to Tommy Rays -- at is was far advanced there -- Several trees about town may be considered green now 1826 was the earliest Spring I recollect ever to have seen -- This day two years ago I was in Greensboro at Court -- It snowed -- and the thermometer next morning was at 17° The ice in the road was thick enough to bear the weight of a horse-- I was told -- not a bud was to be seen -- and everything was cherless [cheerless] as mid winter.--
Linton Stephens University of Va.
Free A.H. Stephens M C
But I have spun this on for long enough. All your late letters I have sent to brother John. But have got none from him to send to you. Affectionately A H. Stephens
A.H. Stephens 17. March 1845 Tells of household affairs.