Augusta County: A. D. Dunlop to His Mother, June 15,
1860
Summary:
A. D. Dunlap tells his mother about the crops, his living expenses, and his daily
activities. Dunlap plans to build a house and mentions his intended.
June 15 1860
Dear Mother
In haste I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines
to let you all know that we are well and hoping these few lines may find you all the same news of interest is scarce her at
present. The weather is very hot at this time here we have
been
blessed with plenty of rain
now for the last 8 weeks corn looks well and
some
again looks bad wheat
there wont be any worth [unclear: nomin]
and oats is very short there has
been
several storms here in the last 2 weeks and
hail plenty and
done a heap of damage
there was one man killed 15 miles from here another
town of Clinton by
lightening his name was Ashby he was in a horse
stable at the time Mother times is hard here and I expect
will
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be harder before they get better the
fruit is scarce there is plenty of peaches in some places
and
some few apples
..well.. Mother I must tell you that I am going to
change my way of living this fall
if nothing happens
and I would like to hear what you will say to it I have
got tired living this way for it costs too much to live
alone in this country we
are paying two dollars and a half a
piece a week and we have to furnish our [unclear: own] bed and pay for our washing
besides I have
some notion to build a house this
summer I aint
certain whether I will or not we have
about twelve hundred dollars
[unclear: standing] out here and still hoc as much
up we both can do I is working and on wagons pretty much all the time he is work at one now we earn
about
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one hundred and twenty dollars per month but
mother I've the everlasting chills we can't get rid of them they give him and I thunder sometimes but don't last long
well Mother I traded
horses this morning and got a
fine mare worth 200:00 I will cut a dash I reckon
and there is two bed dance here tonight I expect be
there with my intended but I can't
[illeg.] you all know that the health or the
country is very good at present except the chills and that
we don't call sickness here Mother I have
some money and you shall
have it well dear
Mother I will close for this time I have
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wrote all the news that I have
and
have not rote much neither
yes
there is to be several barbecues round here the 4 of July and one on the 14 I wont know whether I shal be at any or not
no more give my best respects all and especially uncle Jim I tell him I wont be like him lone and old bachelor all my life tell sister Nan to look out and Mag the same
no more at present but remain your most dearest son
A. D. Dunlop
write soon to me and dont forget me
