April 30 1883

[Martha says to name all Melinda if you
want prety children. if you don’t there
will be non like Alis- written in margin]

Dear Celenia Frank and children,

I seat my self this Evning to write you a few lines in answer to your much welcom letter I recieved a few moments ago. I was very glad to hear from you all and to heare that you are well and doing well. I haint got well but am a heep better. I dont never expect to be well Celenia. the rest is well. I haint bin no place but Jims and Barnes sins I seen you and none of them from brackett town but Johnathan. you think there is something rong? no thing attall Celenia. I couldent go if I had bin able. I would staid a week with you before you mooved. Celenia you have bin a good child to me and remember all ways I love you. I think of you every day every Night. when I heard that you was gone it felt like I couldent beare it. I felt like I never will see you any moor but want to see O so very much. there was a miss understanding about you s[t]arting. Cates children told the girls you had s[t]arted mondy. if they hadent heard that they would went. they thought you [were] gone untill the next Evning. Mrs Taylor told them you started that Morning. Haywood was going to see you monday night too. your pa would went Sunday but it rained. he was making a mill wheel for Mr Jacob Yelton at the time. your pa haint bin at home only one week sins the week before you mooved. he is builden a mill for Bennett where the factory was. I see a lonesom time now Celenia. [p.1]

I sit and look out of the window and wonder what you are doing and if you are satified. when a mother looses a good child they miss them and I miss you. you have all ways treated me like you loved me. you and Frank has treated me well and I hope the Lord will bless you all. there has bin several deaths latly. Tildy Foteet died last thursday. was a week last week Nathan Jimerson and Nat Cowen and two other negroes died. afew weekes ago Tom Hemphills father and Charley burnett died. the 24th of last month Mr Toney died. Jims family is well. we finished planting corn last thursday my garden only looks tolerable well I aint able to work it I dont do any work worth any thing Francis hiers the plowing don. I haint seen Amy Jane and Julia sins I seen you. dont you think they ought to come to see me before. if you and Frank had bin up there I think you and him would of come before now. I cant leave home when Francis is away. Celenia kiss all the children for me and sweet little Alis twist. Frank kiss Celenia once for me and twist for your self. be good one to the other live in peace and the God of love be with you all. if I live and you live come this fall and see me. if I could see you I would be oh so glad I could talk all day and all night oh these long lonsom days and nights that I spend. I haint heard fom Thomas and George Pinkney sins they went home. [p.2]

Martha says her and the sherrief haint married yet he was hear last night. Eliza Ann had long bill last night with her Derotha Ida and Isabell hasent any beau. Andy is south Carolina and her and Queen has quit. Marys baby can walk. Martha says tell you that the serrief was hear last night for the last time. Mr Barns says tell you that solomon Barns says that it is not so and I am of his opinion too. to day the children is a burning logs out hear in the field. there has bin the most stormes and hard winds this month I have ever known this soon in the season. last night a week ago it rained thundered and lightened powerfull all night. the waters on monday was very your pa dident get to his work untill wensday. thursday there was a large frost and it is cool this evning. I am writing in the Entry. I had to get out hear for them to sit supper. I wish you was hear to take supper with me. tell me how many rivers you cross between hear and there and how many Miles it is fom me to you and how you like down there and how you like your boss. tell Jonnes that Johney has got him a dog. he would rather have a dog than a mule. Mr Birksey wants your pa to work at the _____ings for one dollar and a half and pay every _____t if he wants it when he is don at _____ but he wont get don at bennetts _____ the last of June I recon. [p.3]

my hands swells sins I have [been] sick so that sometimes I can hardly use them. they are sweld this morning. Isabella says tell you she got an _____ April fool yesterday. some time ago John Cowens house got burnt and every thing they had in it was burnt. the people gave them about as much as they [could ?] May the[?] I will finish this Morning. I have bought me a acordian and have learnt to play several tunes. it cost two dollars sixty cts. it helps me [pass ?] away the lonsom hours. Easter sunday it snowed all day and was about as large a snow as we had this Winter. it looks like rain this morning. Celenia I [have] writen about all that I can think of now my head aches and it is bad to write then. write soon and often. I thought it a long time before you wrote to me. I would hav writen to you but I dident know where to send it to. I will write when I can. I dont know when this will be mailed. if I was able to and mail it I would mail it today. I must close for the presant. all of you rember me. Celenia pray for Mother that I may see you again and if we meet no moor on Earth I pray that we meet in heaven. A few moor years sal roll a few moor seasons. Come and we shal be with those at rest a sleep within the tomb. then oh my Lord prepare us all for that great day. write as soon as you get this tell the children howdy. good by Celenia if I live I will write agane.

good by to Frank and the Children

from M A E Poteet to Celenia

your Mother untill death Celenia [p.4]

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