Norman E. Gates is dead, and his widow is married to Rev. James Hadley. Old Doctor Gates is still alive, and grunting at Troy. Your uncle Levi is still alive and as indolent as ever. He sticks close to the little house, which I built for his occupancy. The Spring is very backward, cold and wet.
Winter wheat looks well.
This is fortunate, for last year was a disastrous one to the farmers, and as we live near market, the country has been drained of its eatables. Night before last, we had heavy rain. The prospect is fair for a tolerable Peach crop next September. That will be a good time for you to visit Kingston Bluff, if the cholera does not rage, and I hope it will not. W. W. Louis folks have learned by experience that it's best to keep up a strict quarantine.