January the 3rd 1886
Broadway Rockingham County Va
Dearest Dorcas
It is indeed with no small degree of love and pleasure toward you that I seat my self this glooing sabbath morning for the purpose of penning you a few lines in answer to your kind and ever welcome letter which came to hand some time ago and was read with much pleasure. Oh I cannot tell you how much pleasure it affoard us all to read letter written by your friendly hand. Oh it brings fresh to memory the happy hour that we have spent in time that are passed and gon yes gon never more to return Dorcas. I am truly thankfull that I can tell you this morning still finde us all as yet in the and among the living enjoing usueal health. Mother health is about as sueual some times suffers a great deal of pain here eyesight is about the same as it was when you were here if any thing wors. The neighbour and friend are jenerally well. Susan Miller has been right company the last week. She is still going around after her work. Nanny was working over at Noah Klines last week. She came home last eavning. Johns baby was right sick the first of the week. It had Chickenpox and taken a soer throat with it. The Dr said it was from the Chicken px. It is near about well again. Freds Ginnie was right porley with the mumps Friday. I haven’t heard from her since old Aunt Frany is still living yet. She is so bade off. Cannot talk nor help her self atall. U think it is so hard Dorcas where are you spending your sabbath today. I wish you were here. O am quite shure we sould have a nice time. I could tell you many things that I cannot wright. There are no one at home today but mother ad myself and Thommy. II left tom in the room with omther to keep compeny with her while I am writing. Sally and susy went up to Noahs last eavening. They exspect to have a turkey roast today. I wish you and I were there to help them eat it. Dorcas where did you spend your Christmas. I hope you had a nice tine. I guess your fellow was over to see you. We spent ours right at home. we had plenty of company althrught unexpected. Mrs Jordan and 4 of her children were here. Mrs Abe Rhodes Freds Sam Sammy Wampler we had a nice time on new year day. Susy and I were at Church neeting. Fannie Linhose came with us home and staid until yestoday after dinner. Dorcas what must I say for the nice Christmas you sent us. Many thank indeed. I cannot tell you how proud we were of it. We got it on Tuesday before Christmas. Mr pennington brought the box up for us. He toald us you had sent it. We opend it at onst. The first thing we saw was that nice picket you sent us. I soaked it and had it for Christmas. Everybody thinks it is so nice. We have over the half of it yet and them appels. They are just as nice as they can be. Oh we enjoy them ever so much and the hickernuts. I just think there is nothing nicer we still crack some for mother. Oh I would like to send something in return. Mother said I should tell you she is everso much obliged to you for the nice Christmas you sent us. She would like to see you all again but you would hafto come to see her that she couldent come. Dorcas we will send your box homethe first opportunity we have. I do not want to send it until I know that I have a good chance. We thought perhaps Richeys foalks would come out to the mill some time that we could send it with then. they always come here and stay all night and I know they will take it for us. Tell your mother we have the White Current. I will send her some if the worms haven’t killed them all. They were so bade on them last summer that they all looke d like they would die. We have plenty of goose burry. The black curn we have what they call the friench curn it blooms ann smell verry sweet. Some people call it the black curn. Is that what your mother wants. You can have plenty of them. I will send them the firs chance I get. The petunes you sent me is growing so nice. Ours died that we had out in the yard we still have our lantana. They are so hard to get to grow. If our young stock has slips on I will try and start one for you. Sam Klin came home from the west. Landed on Christmas day. We wer over at Mike Klines last Monday. He looks like always onley a little taller. He don’t talk like as if he exspects to stay long well dorcs we are through weaving for this winter. finished up several weeks ago. I shall now bring my badely composed letter to a close lest I might wery your pacient. They all join me in sending our love and best wishes to you all. So no more. Hoping to hear from you soon. from your true Friend F V Kline
The girls said I should tell you orto have ben along up at the turkey roast. They said they had a nice time. they brought mother and I a peas of turkey ad some cake. Susy said I should tell you that picked you sent urs is the nisest thing she ever eat of that kind. Sally said I should tell you she sertainly did enjoy them kikernuts. It was all so nice we cant talk enough about. Susy said you should take good care of your fellow and let her know when you are going to get marrie. She will come up and see you put to gether. Dorcas have you any of that muskmelon seed like you sent out. If you have will you pleas send us a few seed if you have an opportunity
