RK-304

[circled] 167 1857

Anna May 5^th

Dear Charlie.

My knee no longer troubles me and tomorrow I go down to the bottoms for birds. I have been feeling blue and homesick to day again. Its childish I know but I cant help it and for an hour at a time a big lump sticks in my throat till it fairly hurts. I can in some measure account for it but not altogether. I borrow trouble, a disposition akin to that which makes me “Squire Bluster” and withal I am too unde =cided and do twice or more what I need to often – When I do a good thing I am not philosophor enough to make it balance a bad job and then when things go wrong I lack the consolation due me – Well, any way I feel sad and melancholy far more than I have any cause for feeling. Dr Andrews & Hoy told me they had noticed this as a regular symptom of dyspepsia. How is it with you? Now I mind Uncle Deacon’s fits of low spirits – Next week in the bottoms Ill feel right well for there I shall work by myself and when I have straight ahead work laid out before me I can pitch in if I like it, and then Im all right. There is a hope of egotism but I wanted to talk

[circled] 167

talk to somebody. To day Col Ashley came to me and said he should take it unkindly if I did not go to his house to stay. (Thinking it too much like sponging and willing to test his willingness for me to stay I have not been at th living at his house for several days) I told him as I had before that I thought it taking too mch much of a liberty with the nights of hospitality to stay so long – But he insisted so strongly as to rather surprise me ^{when I consented (right gladly in truth) to go to his home again.} I went up to tea and beheld the explanation in th a lot of Evergreens fruit trees roses etc which he had recd from you this morning and had set out without saying anything to me about it. He was mightily pleased and had worked like the D-l all day to get them out right. Now I shall go to his house to stay and dear Charlie it d if you knew how pleasant twill make it for me I wot your love will make the knowledge compensate you and major for the trouble you’ve had in getting them off – for now I shall feel quite at liberty to stay at Col Ashley’s, and ‘tis so like home there that I don’t feel half as homesick – and can get cured when I do by Miss Barnes’ music. To you then is due my gratitude for the pleasure Ill have in staying there as much as to col ashley’s hospitality which I should not otherwise

have willingly accepted – The Col got fathers letter to night. Ive had no letters from home since I went to cairo over a week since and seeing this in the box I took it up to Col Ashleys that I might know if there was anything for me, as I start early in the morning for the bottoms ‘Twas to take the letter I went up to tea – feeling mighty blue in truth but I’m all right now – and so I’m neglecting to write some business letters to scratch my thanks to you boys and father. Had the trees came a little sooner I might have gotten some orders before I left for the lakes but maybe Col Ashley will try and I can send folk to him to see the trees – but I take it you can supply bigger evergreens if desired tho' small ones are doubtless best for purchasers here –

I can tell you what. If it can be done a branch nursery must be started here. Wouldnt Roses grow somewhat tho'

I enclose a copy of my act a/c with [illegible] [university?] for past month – will Dalce please keep it for me lest I loose my book. The chirography of this is Fred Starings – He wrote it for me one rainy day – But for Bairds' presence I should have had a lonesome time

I was confined to the room – planing to go out any and it as it has been raining several days back and the weather seemed to hurt my leg – Fred’s a good fellow!

No letters from home for over a week. Shall expect a good batch when I get back from the lakes in the bottoms.

I see you still get up some articles but will they pay you for them?

I wrote about Franks unfortunate misconstruction of some letter of fathers to John [illegible] trust ‘twill all come out well – Frank is too “touchy’ sometimes – He very considerately gave me a box of segars when I left but for which I should have much enjoyed.

Give my love to all the folk – write if you feel like it if not why Ill know tis cause because you are too busy & tired

Rush upon condle for me

Yours always Bob

May 6th – A rainy day kept me from going to the bottoms - I go tomorrow – no letters from home D-n the Postmen. – I got a fine lot of birds to day – Tell Alice to go it on the sylvias – they are a little late this year – Tell her to skin all she can Ill give her 15ȼ for- each species – practice [illegible - page creased] her to take off the skins properly – get lots of

[circled] 169 5 1857

Must tell you – I got arrested! to day – constable “took me up” for breaking city ordinance – shot in the town of anna – was a rare warbler had to get him banged away – constable standing by – nabbed me – told him to hold on till I plastered the specimen – went to the office – “gamed” him a little on the way – asked if he’d have a segar – quite won his heart by a better article than he gets down here – concluded I need not pay any fine and should only make bother to complain of me – said I must not shoot any more unless he was out of sight! Got Fred staring to show me a bird out of the window though. Good fellow Fred is –