RK-311

[circled] 233

Sunday afternoon -

Dear Bob. Yesterday, this time, the mercu=ry was up to near 80[degrees] in the shade - this morning 34[degrees] & now 40[degrees] - a fall of 46[degrees] in 12 hours; and a bitter north wind - worse than all. A large order from the D^r Blaney on hand, and two or three small ones - We got off a load for Uncle "Deacon" yesterday, - and finished planting currants - Bruno has got home - had enough of it - I suffer a good deal with irritability of the neck of the bladder &c. &c. - but my mind being tolerably active, this morning, I wrote ten pages for you - the first half mother has copied - the other is headed 'Snakes'[double underline], and is Editorial - a sort of reply to the snake "[illegible]" who are down on the "Infant" - with some facts in regard to reptiles generally - also for your benefit. [Illegible] copies of what I write - and if this gets lost must try again - I want to visit you, Bob - but when things press so, at home, I dont like to leave just for my own pleasure. Per=haps I may get off yet, before the end of the month - I shall "hope on" - and I know you[double underline] will hope too -

[circled] 234

We got towards $200, in drafts yesterday - Reynolds of Salem sent near half of it - and a high com=pliment on our packing - two others praised the packing - which, of course, delights the boys. I think the sales are up to $1,500 - but the cash pur=chases and freight bills are heavy drawbacks, and the weekly expenses awful - and then, poor mother and the girls. Well, well, 'tis well that they are not helpless, themselves - Uncle Will brought out the new teacher, and never asked him to his own house - but sent him here, at once. He appears to be a plain sensible young man, and reasonably well educated for a school teacher - noth=ing Extra. I help the girls a little in Botany, and write all the letters - no small job for invalid - Frank written to Charlie, since he got your letter, I should think. I care not "three jack straws" for this silly misconstruction of my feelings - They will come lower, at least Frank will - Bragdon may not be so sensible, as sensitive.

- nous vorrons -