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 Dec 9th 1894 My Dear Roderick, It is with much pleasure that I now sit down to answer your kind letter which I received on Nov 14. I am glad to hear that you and yours are in good health which is a great blessing. We are all fairly well. Annie has been sick on and off for some time but is getting better right along. The only thing that bothers me is Rheumitism. It get in my knees and shoulders. I received a letter from Alick dated Nov 20. It is the same old story of hard times and sickness. They seem to go together. Maggy is very ill with boils in her head. I feel sorry for them. I sent Page 2 them a little help, but I am not able to send any just now untill after the New Year as Taxes becomes Due Dec 31 and insurance in January but I will do what I can and as soon as I can. Trade is very dull there yet. He says he had a letter from you. I never received a letter from Robert Findlay but I am writting to him today. I am also writting to Alick. I have not but the least doubt but that it would be good for Robert to go to Canada, if possible. He would learn a great deal. If it were possible for him to go there he must come through Texas and stop over in Houston. The Southern Pacific from San Fransisco pases by the door. Page 3 I should be very glad to see him. The weather here is very warm and dry. We had no rain for several months untill a few days ago. There was an immense crop of Cotton raised in Texas this season, so much that the prices went down so low that it did not pay for raising it. The Cotton season will soon be over. Times here are a little better as far as the Rail-Roads are concerned for that is the main work in Houston. There is a great deall of killing going here and elsewhere. In the paper I send you will see the account. They were shopmates of mine. There was a nother killing this morning at 12.30 am. I am still with the H and T C RRd. Bussines in the Shop work are slacking Page 4 off now. I will send those photos after a little while. I will be sure and send them. I send you a list of Officers of the different Lodges that I belong to for a number of years. They are Insurance & Fraternal Orders. Have you any there? I send the Galveston News for a change. Annie unites with me in sending her kind regards to Yourself, Wife and Family wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Be sure and write soon as I am keeping the dates when I write. With love to all. Good by for Auld Lang Syne Your Affectionate Brother Henry E. Macdonald