[Background - I believe the writer is John Lee Robinson who never
went to Erskine to my knowledge.  He is 22 at the time (b. 5 Dec 1855).  He is
writing his younger brother Thomas Harvey Robinson Sr who is at Erskine
University in Due West, SC at the time. He graduates in 1879 from Erskine.  He
is 17 1/2 at the time (b. 23 May 1860). I keep the line endings the same as the
original.]

Envelope:

Master Thomas H. Robinson    *1*
Due West Post Office
Abbeville County
South Carolina

Fairfield, December 10, 1877 
Mr. T. H. Robinson

Dear Brother,
   I have not heard 
from you in the last month.
I saw Ollie yesterday he showed            *2*
me his letter he received from you.
You said that you thought I
had forgotten you.  I tell you 
that I never will forget you while 
I live. Wash Picket was married last       *3*
month to Miss Pelley [Polly?].  Mrs. Barfield     *4*
was kill[ed] last week by Mr. Carter 
and Mr Ruscian?.  Tom, I tell you 
to go to John Bonner and tell him          *5*
to let you have some money.  Papa          *6*
sent him a draft of four hundred 
dollars.  Tom tell Willie he must not      
jump before he is spured.  Miss Fannie   
Huckaby was married last week               *7*
[over to back]
to Mr. Sid Fryer.  Cousin James             *8*
came out here last week.  [H]e brought 
fifteen head of horses. [H]e sold all       *9*
of them to Cousin William.  I heard
that Cousin Billie is to be married next    *10*
week to Miss Lizzie Sessions.  We are all 
well at present.  Tell Janie and Sister I     *11, 12*
have not heard from them in a month.  
I am going to start to the Western Country     *13*
on February.  Mr. Cooper is going to have      *14*
a concert next Friday night. You must 
not think hard of me for not writing
sooner for my finger has been sore 
for the last two months.  Tell Willie          *15*
that I have not received a line from 
him as of yet. Miss Lella is getting along     *16*
very well now.  They have raised forty 
thousand dollars for the railroad. 
    Good by Dear Brother
	   Your affectionate 
	   Brother John Robinson                   *17*
	   

*1* Thomas Harvey Robinson Sr age 17 (b. 23 May 1860) who is at Erskine
University in
Due West, SC. He graduates in 1879 from Erskine.  
*2* John Oliver Bonner, son of Andrew Samuel & Sue; brother to William Andrew. 
*3* W. W. Pickett married Emma Worsham on 9 Nov 1877 
*4* Unknown event
*5* "John Bonner"is John Irvine Bonner in SC; ran the college
*6* "Papa" is James Bonner Robinson age 70 (b 2 Sep 1807) at the time the
letter was written.
*7* Mary Francis "Fannie" Huckaby married Sidney Augustus Fryer on 28 Nov 1877
*8* "Cousin James" might be James E. Robinson age 47 (b. 22 Jan 1830) (s/o
John) who
lived in Williamson Co., TX or could be a James Bonner from AL
*9* "Cousin William" I believe to be William Hemphill McCreary age 35 (b 25 Aug
1842) 
(who is cousin via Mary and his mom Elizabeth), but he is usually referred to
as Bill.  Note - William Edward is not him based on #10.
*10* "Cousin Billie" is  William Edward Bonner, Sr. age 29 (b 23 Sep 1848) (who
marries
next year 1878 to Elizabeth Browning Sessions) (who is cousin via Rev. Thomas
Joell Bonner and his mom Elizabeth). 
*11* "Janie" is Eliza Jane Davidson age 18 1/2 (b 11 May 1859) who later
marries Angus Tyson McGilvary.  She graduates Due West Womens College in 1878.
*12* "Sister" is Sarah Hope Robinson who is known to be at Erskine in 1876.
*13* John Lee Robinson rides the Chisholm Trail in 1877 and 1879.  This is what
I believe he means the "Western Country".
*14* Mr. Cooper is unknown an entertainer to me.
*15* Willie (at Erskine) would be William Andrew Bonner age 19 (b. 15 Oct 1858)
and
attending Erskine in 1876.
*16* "Miss Lella" is unknown
*17* John Lee Robinson age 22 (b. 5 Dec 1855) never went to Erskine to my
knowledge.