[Edward Monroe Watson was writing to Alexander Tazewell "Taz" Watson & Martha 
Elizabeth "Mat" Whitaker at Stewards Mill. He was attending "Hill's Business 
College" in Waco. The Brazos River next to Waco.]

[Note - paper is stamped with seal that says "quality evergreen" 
and has paper logo.]

Waco Texas
Feb 9th 1895

Dear Home Folks
                     As tonight
is Saturday night and I haven't 
anything else to do, I will try
and write some.  Though I dont know
a bit of news.
   I haven't seen any water
since I left home.  everything
here is frozen.  we have been having
some fine grub since the cold weather
set in.  coffee and toothpicks for 
breakfast & supper + toothpicks and coffee 
for dinner.
   We went to see Mattie this                  *1*
evening.  She is getting along fine she says.
   They have lots of water too.  she says 
they allow them a spoonful a piece a day
to wash their faces with.
   The thermometer was down to 4

[page 2]

below zero.  here thursday morning             *A*
and four above yesterday morning.
   The Evening Telephone says that 
four mule teams are crossing the Brazos
on the ice.
   A good many of the boys
have been out on the river. skating 
nearly all the time for the last 
few days.
   There is a coal famine 
here in Waco since the cold weather
set in.  There wasnt any school today
on account of not having any coal.
  I havent done anything on my 
books since Thursday.  to a ????? to
anything.  Lake entered the practical         *2*
department last Thrusday though he hasn't 
done much.  I am on the eighth set 
in the theory. there is two more sets
besides it, and four sets in Shipments.
  I think maybe I will get home by

[page 3]

Christmas.  Lake says he will be home
on the 10th of May, but if he does he will
have to rustle???.
    There is one boy here that 
entered school on the 7th of Jan that is 
just two sets a head of me.
   And another one is here that
entered school in 91.  I think maybe
it wont take me that long.
   Lake is six sets and a piece a 
head of me.
   Papa said in his letter that 
he thought I must be mistaken about 
a scholarship in Penmanship costing
$50.00 but that is what it costs.  There
is only one boy here that has a schol-
arship.  He just sets in Prof. Hills office  *3*
and writes all the time.  He sure enough
writes a fist?.
   I have seen Mr. C. C. Carroll several     *4*
times since I have been over here.
He has a house rented for $15.00 per
month, and has his family over here.

[page 4]

  There was another fire in town
last night.  it was about four blocks
from here.  it was another barn.  I did 
not get to go as I was sick.  I didn't 
intend saying anything about that but I 
forgot.  I had fever yesterday evening
and all night last nght and up till about 
10 oclock today.  I stayed in bed all
morning.  I took some quinine yester-
day at dinner, and last night.  Also some 
antikamnia last night. and have 
been taking quinine all day.  am feeling 
all O.K. to night.  I think it is just cold 
that is the matter with me.
   I expect it will be too cold for
us to go to preaching tomorrow.
it is pretty cold and misting rain
tonight, looks like it had just as 
soon or a little sooner snow than not.
   Well I will quit for to night.
may write some more tomorrow.



*A* = [marked thru "or a little below"]

*1* = "Mattie" is unknown
*2* = "Lake" is unknown
*3* = "Prof. Hills" is unknown
*4* = "Mr. C. C. Carroll" might be Charles Clement Carroll 
(who married Winifred Adelia Kilborn in 1892 in Freestone Co.).