3

Elk Dec 4th 1853
Col Ballard
Dear Sir I would have
written to you last week but was waiting
for an answer to my last to you but now
suppose you have not record it consequently
I write you a gain I am pretty well
done picking cotton or at least I will
finish by the fifteenth or twentieth of
this month if no preventing providence
and have two hundred & sixty bales tied
and a bout three hundred gined and I
think the crop will be a bout three hundred
& thirty tied bales and have picked
two hundred bales of it very nice the
other is some what trashy But not so
bad as a part of that of last year
I have gathered a fine crop of corn
and will kill some four or five thousand
lbs of meat

PS I wrote you in regard to the Doctor, the
Staying an other year on the place which
he wishes to do and he ask me some
time past would I object if
you were willing I told why would not But
have concluded since I would Rather he
would not so if you will now write to