[Letter of Nov. 18, 1877, from Robert Stuart Davidson to his brother-in-law, 
Tom Robinson.] [Edited transcription.]

[p. 1]

      Richland, Texas, Nov. 18th, 1877
      Mr Tom Robinson         *A*
             Dear Brother
I received you[r] letter some
few days sinc[e], have not
had time to answer untill
know [now]. This leaves all
well. Your Pa com[e] up       *B*
yesterday. He has not gon[e] 
home yet. Have no news
of importance. Have had 
a great deal of bad weather. 
Have got along slowly 
with mi han[d]s. I lack 
about one half days wor[k] 
hoeing and one thousan[d] 
brick to hall [haul]. The bottom 
is very bad. We have not 
gathered any corn of any 

[p.2]

consequence and some 
ten baels of cotton to 
pick yet. Totts got your     *C*
letter on fryday last. He 
has gon[e] to fairfield to day. 
Mr Patterson got back        *D*
yesterday, he did not bring 
me any hands. Mi horses 
are doing very well.The winter 
gras[s]es are fine. I succeeded 
in gettin[g] my pasture sown 
but not as early as I wished, 
but if the winter is warm 
I think it will yet be of 
great benefit. The mast     *1*
has been a failure, the 
worms destroyed it all be-
fore it matured. Poark will 
be worth five cents per lbs 
but if the colary [cholera] had 
not have destroyed the hogs 
and the masts been good 

[p. 3]

[the price of pork] would have been very 
low. Corn is rising ev[er]y day.
It is worth forty cents 
and still advancing, we think 
will go to six bits [75 cents]. Pressly   *E*
has bought himself a hors[e] 
and is at coarting[?]       *2* 
and is trying to buy a cow and 
calf. I was pleased to 
heare that you was sattisf- 
yed to remain at school.
It speaks well for you 
with us all far of[f] all 
things gives me one that 
has the determination to do 
what he sets out for 
and is not discouraged for
every trifle. Stick to your 
school Tommy and you         *A*
will be a man.
             Love to all
      From R. S. Davidson    *F*


[NOTES ON PEOPLE:]
*A* = "Tommy", "Brother", "Tom Robinson" = Thomas Harvey Robinson [age 17, 
          away attendeding Erskine College in Due West, SC.]
*B* = "Your Pa" = James Bonner Robinson [age 69]
*C* = "Totts" = unknown 
*D* = "Mr Patterson" = unknown 
*E* = "Pressly" = James Pressly Robinson [age 26, sherriff, married 17 Nov 1874
        to Mary Fannie Mcracken.]
*F* = "R. S. Davidson" = Robert S. Davidson [age 44, brother-in-law to Tom,
        1870 Navarro Co., Texas census shows him a farmer. Reference is
        page 24; household 352; Corsicana P.O.]

[NOTES ON TERMS:]
*1* = "mast" =  Mast is nuts and acorns accumulated on the forest 
floor often used as food for hogs.
*2* = "coarting" = Note James Pressly is already married.  I believe this 
  refers to a court session since he is the sheriff.