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 rother Roderick in Melbourne, Australia. Houston, Texas June 30th 1895 My Dear Roderick, I received your welcome letter of March 15th. I was surprised to hear of Robert leaving you for Montreal, and that was the reason I delayed writing to you thinking that either he or Robert Findlay would write but I received no letter from either one of them. I wrote Finlay March 18th, but so far no answer. Well I hope he arrived all well and that he will like it. Montreal is not so very far from here, only about 4 or 5 days by rail and so I waited day after day so I give it up. I received a letter [from] Page 2 Alick Dated June 4th. He has very little news to write, only about the launch of the war ship “Terrible”. It was a Gala day in Glasgow. Maggie is very sick. It is too bad that she is so sick so long. Did you get the New Orleans papers that I sent you. We had a very cold winter here this year. There was 2ft snow in Houston, something that was never knowing before, and away in North Texas there was hardly any. I believe the climate is changing. The Cotton crop is short this year. We have too much rain. It has rained nearly all of June and the sun is very hot, which causes Page 3 a great deal of sickness here and a great many deaths occur daly. It was like this during the Yellow Fever time in Galveston in 1867. Times in the Iron Trade is getting better but it does not affect us away down South, but one thing it will not do us any harm. We had the Confederate’s reunion here this summer (May). They were from all over the States, but it rained the whole week and left here in disgust. Then on the 19th, the Negroes had their reunion and it rained also and still a raining. About the middle we are going, (if it don’t rain), to have children’s day where the boys will have goat- Page 4 races and other games. It is a great day for the boys & girls. We are all well so far - only Annie she is not quite well yet. I hope you are well over there and that times are getting better. Remember me kindly to Mrs Macdonald & all the children. Also Annie sends her respects to you all. Now Roderick be sure and write soon and do not wait as long as I did. I will now draw to a close. With kind love to all Your Affectionate Brother Henry E. Macdonald