Llano County, TX - Letter to J. F. McLean from John H. McLean Wednesday, June 12, 2002 Submitted by: lab@boone.net (Linda Barton) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Transcription of letter in my possession belonging to McLean family of Fayette Co, Ga. written to Juan Fernandez McLean from his nephew, John Hiram McLean of Texas....son of Juan Fernandez McLean's brother, Hiram Hampton McLean. This letter is typed on letterhead from Law Office of McLean & Spears......Llano, Texas.....J H McLean Sam'l Spears Llano, Texas, September, 3, 1908 Mr. J. F. McLean Woolsey, Ga. My Dear Uncle, It has been so long since I heard from you, and am anxious to hear of your welfare, will do now that which I have been intending to do so long, - write to you. I never will die happy, or live contented, unless I can get you out here again. When you were here before I thought I was so very busy that I did not have time to get the full benefit of your visit, and now, when I look back upon it I wonder that I did not turn everything loose and enjoy to the fullest extent the opportunity that was so rare. I so much wish that you and the girls would come out and spend a few months with us, - it would be the treat of our lives. I believe I know where there is a spring of water almost as good as your well water, and I have a well now that is very good, - tastes a good deal like yours. This is the well that supplies my private water-works put in since you were here. If these fail to satisfy thirst we will ship a barrell from Georgia and refrigerate it . Many things have gone wrong, from a worldly standpoint, and may are still at crosspurposes, but it "will all come out in the washing". It is true if people do the best they can they will usually get as good as they deserve. Many of us, however, want more than our desserts, and are not satisfied if we get it. George, Lutie's husband, had quite a serious time a while back, was in a very critical condition for quite a while, and we thought his chances were slim. We sent him to Austin for better medical skill than was accessible here, where we thought a very critical operation would have to be performed. There was great difficulty in diagnosis, and while the medical experts were hesitating as to the course to pursue, the immediate trouble was relieved and he is now apparently all right. Sister has recently left the Sanitarium in Austin, where she underwent an operation, which her physician said was absolutely necessary to prevent the most dire consequences in the near future. She got along splendidly and is now doing well, but her physician was afraid for her to join Sam and their two girls in a camp down on the Llano, where they are now. As you already know Lute was operated on some time ago, said to be a successful operation. But it seems if the wound heals it is called a "successful operation" whether the trouble operated for is removed or not. Operations seem to run in the family. While Lute looks well, she is not at all strong. I don't like to talk about my troubles, but I very much fear that in the near future I will be compelled to change my occupation. My nervous system is so unstrung and shattered by twenty years constant worry over other people's troubles, I am sometimes affected with symptoms or premonitions of blindness. I can't think of anything much worse, and as soon as I satisfy myself that my occupation has brought it about a change of some kind will come. I have had a few disasters, in a financial way, but they don't disturbe me like this question of physical condition. This may only be a passing indisposition, and I might think so only for the fact that my usual sweet and amiable disposition (?) is a thing of the past, in fact the crabbedest, crossest old setting hen you ever saw is amiableness personified in comparison. I thinnk I wrote you of the fire at my residence some four months ago, the most serious result of which was the almost complete prostration of Minnie. Her almost superhuman effort saved the loss of the house, and that , together with the excitement resulted in premature confinement, a boy now three months old. He was a "we laddie" at first, about four pounds, but is getting to be "strapping big boy" now, weighs nearly ten pounds. But little rest did his mother get until very recently. Just now he is better, lost some of his "total depravity", and his mother is not so completely worn out. The boys, not this last one, but the other two, and I have fixed us up a pack outfit and we are going to spend many nights in the mountains this fall and winter, when the deer season opens up. I inherited my father's love of hunting, especially the big game. We are all very fond of the woods. I am only sorry that Minnie and the other boy can't go with us on these rough trips. We have our saddle ponies and a burro to carry our pack, we can go into the fastnesses of the mountains inaccessible with a vehickel. Minnie Bell, our girl, is a treasure, stubborn as a mule when antagonized, but ususally yields to loving suasion, if the other fellow does not yield first. Spoiled ? - I guess. With love from me and mine to you and all the cousins, and their children, I anxiously wait to hear from you, and to receive a renewal of the hope that you and the girls, or you or the girls, or you or one of the girls, will visit us some time in the near future, and in the mean time remain, Your affectionate nephew, (J H McLean) JHM