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Collins Place
Feb 4th 1874
Well Miss Bettie it has been
a very long time since I
last wrote to you and a
longer time since I heard
from you. What has become
of you? this I often ask
myself, wondering why you
have not written. You never
were a prompt corrispondent,
but now you have ceased
to be one of any kind.
Why so, I cannot imagine, is it
because your duties are so
numerous that you cant
possibly spare the time to
write? or is it that you have
gotten out of the way of
writing & find it hard to
carry into execution the resolve
[Marginalia – cross written on page]
[Follows Pg 4 text]
war beside family afflictions, twas a bad
crop year & besides a short crop, came a
very low price for cotton, which with the
panic in monetary affairs has placed most of
us in low circumstances. With a new year tho'
we have all begun with new energy, hoping
to be most fortunate during this in every respect.
Labor [hands?] while still plenty is growing
hard to obtain under contracts, wishing mostly
to rent land. We are gradually falling into
the tenant system in fact I have rented all
my plantation this year but a small portion
that I will work with my carriage horses.
[continues on Pg 2 marginalia]