San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-13

The following, written to cousin in Gin
cinnati, was probably the last letter aside
from business) of the writer. For SOME
reason it failed to reach its destination, and
was returned to him d,1ring his last sickness:
OFFICE OF CLAUDE r.. JULIAN,
Book AND Ne wsDEALER.
San Marcos Texas, February 25, 1881.
DEAR L1NDLEY: = You will see by my let
ter head what am doing now. I borrowed
some money of Papa to commence with last
September. I have little counter on one
side of our room in town where sell my pa
pers, and Papa rented the other side to a
lady that sells all kinds of notions and few
books and pictures.
It is beginning to be like spring here
most of the gardens are planted and peas
are several inches high; all of our peach
trees have not bloomed yet, but most peo-
pies have. The aguaritas look like they
will make good crop, which would be
nice; they are Mexican currant, and are
splendid. The grass is all green and COM
ing up We are late with our garden be-
cause Papa could not get man to dig it up;
it ought to have been planted some time
ago. Nellie is getting her flower beds made.
The railroad is past our place over fifty
miles now, and they are just putting up the
ron bridge over the river in place Of the
trestle work.
We will have some chickens Matched in a
day or two; we have several hens setting
that will hatch before long.
expect you will notice my writing does
look like it did, because it is not shaded; it
is because write with my Christmas pres
emit, astylographic pen, Papa gave me. Iexpect
you have seen them advertised. The holder
is hollow and holds ink enough to last q
week, and then you can fill it again it wont
blot or get on your fingers, and shuts up SO
can put it in my pocket and take my pen,
penholder and inkstand everywhere I 60. I
gave Papa a Mackinnon pen Christmas, a
gOOQ Q6dl Ike ulluc, huu Ohu AV V1AAA l
was going to get anything like it.
We have just had new pump putin our
cistern there is not much water in it, so we
want it to rain.
A sled, skate or SNOWFALL is something
unknown here as playthings; all they
know here about them is what they are told
or read. There was about the largest snow
here this winter that has ever been; it was
about an inch deep, and you could see the
shingles through it. 1t hardly ever SHOWS
here.
Papa got lot of young fruit trees to
plant this season. Morning globes, VERDE
mas, lantanas, and three different colored lark
spurs grow wild over our place. besides
lots of wild flowers we don't know the name
of, some of which are as pretty and sweet as
any.
There are good many houses being built
here; they could not get any lumber till
lately, because the railroad was carrying so
much for its extension.
1t is not long till my squirrels fifth birth
day. He has lived in the same house all his
life, except a few weeks at first he was in a
box. He likes to have piece of wood to
play with and gnaw on
II gets pretty warm in the day now we
only have little fire before breakfast, but
it will not stay this way all the time; there
viii be some northers that viii make it cold
for few days and then it viii get warm
again
There don't seem much to vritethis time,
20 Good Bye,
CLAUDE r JULIAN.