Letter written by Henry Ebenezer MacDonald - Harris County Texas John Hendry 13 May 2001 ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used 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 for presentation by other persons or organizations. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ************************************************************************** Transcript of a letter from Henry E. MacDonald of Houston, Texas, to his brother Roderick in Melbourne, Australia. Houston, Texas July 11th 1878 My Dear Roderick, I wrote you a long letter that I sent to you last year, also some papers. I received from you about Jan’y or Feb papers in return but no letter. I thought it was lost. I sent afterwards about 60 days another letter to you from “Corsicanana” yet no answer. I also wrote to “Mother” adressed to “Maggy” but received no answer yet. I am here and the youngest of all, yet like a lost sheep. Would write you a great deal but I do not know whether you are in Melbourne now or not. There are some Scotchmen Page 2 here by the name of White & Hart who has been there, (White is Scotch) (Hart is Irish) yet all good men. If you are in the same place yet, please write me as soon as you can. Little Roderick is doing well he is now “3 Years & 6 Months” and he can say the Lords prayer very near by heart going to bed every night. Also the “A. B. C. D. & alphabet”. How is little Henry. Give him for me, a good kiss. Hopping he will enjoy good health and all other requisites, also the other children not forgetting Mrs. R. Macdonald. I will conclude with Annies and my best wishes to you and yours Respectfully Henry E. Macdonald Page 3 Roderick I forgot to tell you about 4 years ago there died a Blacksmith by the name of Stewart. He was “an odd fellow also a Mason”. He had two pieces of bark of the tree where Burns and his Highland Mary give their last larewell to one another. You know the verse How Sweetly Bloomed the gay Green Birk How Rich the Hawthorn Blossom As underneath their fragrant shade I Clasped her to My Bossom. Off the same Hawthorn Tree Stewart cut it out with his knife and when or before he died he told me I should have one. Only last Sabbath day it has been spoken about. Now Roderick I will close because this letter may go where the last one went. When I am writting this it is Page 4 two a clock in the morning. I just come home from work - worked “over time”. Now Roderick write soon and let me know where Mother is. I would send you papers but I do not know whether you will get any or not. Anyway I will send you some next week as there is something brewing between Mexico & Texas (or) U. States. Hoping you are all well I will close untill I hear from you Your Affectionate Brother H. E. Macdonald Good By write soon to H. E. Macdonald care H and T CRR Houston, Harris Co Texas America