Sedalia Sunday, October 8th /71 Miss Amanda Scott Dear Cousin, After some delay which seems unavoidable I will reply to your kind and very welcome letter which I received some time since. I would have written before but I have been very busy since I received yours, so you will please excuse me this once. I certainly intended to do it for I like punctuality myself and I know they say to expect it from others is to be punctual. Your letter found all well I am all alone this evening except the children Marcel and Sally have gone to meeting this evening and left me to keep house. Clyde and Irvine are out at play and I have just gotten the baby to sleep and taking advantage of these quiet moments to write you. I haven't had a letter from home since I write you. I wrote to Lydia about the same time I did you, but have not heard a word yet. Marcel went to Sedalia yesterday and I expected to get two or three letters, and you can imagine how dis- appointed I was when he came back and had none (come in) Well Amanda you just ought to see what a nice fellow has just left. Come by to go to church with me but was doomed to disappointment. I could not go. Wasent that too bad? but he was not more disappointed than ***** myself, not that I cared so much to go with him. But it is the last time we will have preaching for some time. I am anxious for Marcel to come home for maybe he will bring the Preacher (or the Teacher) home with him. I of course would prefer seeing the last named. But I strangly forget myself, schoolgirls should not think of such things but they will forget sometimes you know. I am getting on nicely at school but I am just now finding out how little I know and when I graduate in that long I will then see how much I can learn. Oh Amanda we have such nice times out at school. We got out evry day and gather ha*******. There lay the greatest quantity of them here that I ever saw in a large pasture near the school house. I have gathered about four or five gallons just at play time. There are a great many percimmons in the same pasture. I think it is so nice to have such things so close to the school house. You know how school children appreciate such things. I was glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself so much going to the Fairs ******* That is so you did. I know I would (that is the going part) but I would not give a cent for all the fairs in the world. I do not think it is wright for those who profess to be Christians ought to go to such places. The Fair in Sedalia was largely attended but not very ***** I heard. Well I think that was a nice trick. That wedding I mean. Tell Cousin Kate that it is just as I expected. Give my love to her and her other half (I don't know whether to say better half or not). Tell Cousin Ike that if he doesn't marry now it will be his own fault. He has but one left now to take care of now and she will soon be (Grey) Jennie I wish you were here today so you could tell me (all of that you dident write). I think you might have told mw something about it. I want to keep posted so that when the news does come that you are _____. I may be able to survie the shock. I cannot forbare sending my best regards to him but if you don't like it you need not give them to him. Well I believe I will ****** ****** Marcel comes and I will tell you whether he come or not. Well I will resume my pen and try to finish my letter (he) dident come and I am blue but I will try and stand it. Give my love to Jennie and tell her to do the best she can for herself. Now Amanda I don't want you to do as I have done but write as soon as you get this and write me a long-long letter and tell me all about evry body and evry thing of interest. Sallie says to tell you that you dident say a word about her but she sends much love to you and Aunt Jane. Give our love to Uncle John. Be sure to write soon to you affectionate friend and loving cousin. (Fanny Irvine ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Wayne E. Johnson (© 2003 Wayne E. Johnson) http://www.rootsweb.com/~mocallaw/ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------