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 Feb 24th 1896 My Dear Roderick I received you kind letter with the papers for Alick enclosed on 19th inst and sent them away the same day. I also received a letter from Alick in the same mail and you will be surprised when I tell you that he got married at 189 Pollokshaws Road by the Rev. John Gool of Elgin U.P. Church on Tuesday 28th Jany 1896 to Rebecca McKenzie of Fort William Invernessshire. She is the same age as himself. I wish him & his bride Joy & Happiness the balance of the few more years alloted to them to live here below. Well Roderick may be it is better for him. I suppose he got lonley since Maggy died, He was off work all Page 2 of last month owing to an accident to his hip joint but is all right again and intends to go to work tomorrow (Feby 3 - he wrote Feby 2d). There were 25 sat down to supper (wedding). I received a letter from Roderick Findlay Chicago Jany 27th. They were all well when he wrote. He said that he was writing you at the same time. He says if he can he will come down South in the summer. I would be very glad to see him. He has but little news. He as well as all the rest wants my photo. I will get it shortly as I do not want to loose a day to go down town on account of the few kept at work, they do not want anyone to lay off. The times here are about the same. We have just now plenty of work on account of so many wrecks latley so they want the work done Page 3 with out hiring any more help. The Planters are going to put more acreage in Cotton this year and with a good year for it will give plenty of work. I received a letter from Robert Henry the later part of Decr. He was well and doing well when he wrote. I wrote him Jany 13th but got no answer so far, expect one every day. We had a very mild winter so far. It was not very cold but may be cold yet. As you will see by the Galveston News I am sending you along with this letter of the arriving of a ship from Calcutta. It will be something new to the Texican to see a full rigged ship come up to the warfs. They will do it if they have enough water. It will be a big advertisment for Galveston. I am glad to see by your letter that Joanna and the Page 4 children are well again after that spell of ilness. I sincerly wish you & yours good health. There is nothing to compare to good health. When a man has not got that he is surly poor for money cannot buy it back again. I am glad to say that myself is a little better. I sent to Michigan (State) for medicine that I believe will do me good. Annie is about the same, some days feeling good, and some bad. Georgiana is well, also Alex Louis. He goes to school regular and is learning fast. When you can, send me an Illustrated paper as the men in the Shop would like to see some Australian scenery. I will now conclude and Annie joins me in sending kindest regards to Joanna, Yourself & Children Wish you a prosperous New Year I remain Your Affectionate Brother Henry Be sure & write soon. I am all the time looking for a letter from you whither I get one or not. Good By