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 May 17th 1896 My Dear Roderick It is with pleasure that I received you welcome letter on 13th inst. Also the paper for which I return thanks. Your papers are all the time welcome. When you can send the Illustrated paper as I like to see Australian scenery. I am glad to hear of you all being well. I am getting much better since I have been taken the medicine that I got from Michigan. I received a letter from Alick on April 13th and they were all well when he wrote. He received the papers for signature all right and he sent it on to London and Edinburgh and says all things are all right. He would like very much for me to take a trip to Glasgow. I would Page 2 I would too but cannot go now. He is still working Clyde bank on the warships “Terrible” & “Jupiter”, also one for Japan. He is going to have his photo’s taken, so we will see him at a distance. I had ours taken on April 21st but have not got them yet, but will send them as soon as I get them. I think Annie will look bad as she has been sick so long. I had a letter from Roderick Findlay on the 1st. They were all well when he wrote. He sent me a photo of little Ella. She looks fine for a girl of 4 years, He says all were well in Montreal when he heard last. I did receive Page 3 a letter from Montreal in a long time. I sent papers there may be their bussy. Roderick Findlay says that he thinks that it will be impossible for him to come to Texas this summer. Well may be better for all of us and we may more prepared next year if spared. The weather is very hot but no signs of Yellow Fever as it is too early yet for it to come. I do not think it will come here unless those running away from Cuba gets in over the quarinteen, which I hope not. We had a great storm up the country as you will see by the papers I send you. Page 4 Annie received a dispatch Friday that her father was very ill so she is gone to see him at a town 140 miles from here. It is one of the oldest towns in Texas “Nacgdoches” (Indian). Georgiana is keeping house while see is gone. Louis is a good boy and is going to school. Times are kind of dull here as it is too early to forecast the crop. Also the election takes place this year. I am glad to hear that times are getting better in Australia. I hope they will continue as you had a long time of dulness Note : - I suspect there must have been a further page or pages to this letter