University of Virginia Library

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In order to avail myself of this mornings mail, & having
3 letters to write I must make this short. Yours of 29th rec.d
It is short & badly written. You are becoming careless. Your scrip
is not near so well written as formerly. Dont get into that bad
habit. You were mistaken about our correspondence. The last letter
I got from before this was dated 1st Nov. in answer to which I
wrote soon thereafter say a week after. So that you see that you
have been very remiss. Yr. Ma rec.d one since. Did you receive that
letter of mine early in Nov.? I am curious to know. I have not
much to write now. Enclosed is my note for the 200$ dft you sent.
I am pleased to find you so provident & that you are husbanding
your means. Save all you can. Enclosed you will also find 5$
which is intended as a Christmas present from yr. Ma in lieu of
the usual box which was not sent this time. I wrote also to E.d
by this mail & enclose to him one of the same sort, also a Bank
dft for 40$ to aid in his expenses.

About other matters & things more interesting I will
write again when you acknowledge this which do soon. We are all
well, except probably the boys who have been indulging too freely
in good things & are now a little puny, but a few days penitence
will make all right.