The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-02-04

Anxiously last summer IS Will uS 49,
as cold as Cailum Bros. suppose their
soda water to be.
Ny sheep are doing finely; they
never were in better condition. Iney
give me very little trouble, for l nave
never been able to see one OF them
yet I will proceed to give you al
the news about this ranch. Dick has
got his new house we'll under Way,
the pet lamb Is doing finely, and 1
take the cake for cooking mutton
steak and fine gravy The chicken
are doing mighty we'll. the garden
produces magnificent prlckly pears
and grass; onions are worth two Tor
five cents and Mr.. Haynes has shot
a Mexican.
IS cooks and 200 wash-women, blind
or wooden legged ones preferred. The
climate has a tendency to make them
walk Off every two or three days,
which must be overcome. Ed Brock
man has quit the store and I think
is going to work for Lee among the
cows. Wears q red sash n swears
so fluently that he has been mistaken
often for a member OF the Texas Leg
i%slature.
If you see DR.. Beall bow to him for
me, politely but d~istantly; he refuses
to waste a line upon me. l suppose
he is too much engaged in counting
~ VA1SO LII ANSAS oiNO -
my ~profoundest regards I think
about him invariably whenever he Is
occupying my thoughts.
Influenced by the contents OF the
Bugle, there is an impression general
at this ranch that you are president,
secretary, and committee, &c, Of the
| various associations Of fruit fairs. sew
ing societies, church fairs, Presby-
terry general assembly, conference,
medical conventions, and baby shows
that go to make up the glory and re-
nOwn OF North Carolina in general,
and while I heartily congratulate the
aforesaid Institutions on their having
such a jealous and efficient officer, I
tremble lest their requirements leave
| you not time to favor me with a let
ter in reply to this. and assure you
that If you would SO honor me I
would highly appreciate the effort I
would rather have a good long letter
from o than many Bugles. In your
letter be certain TO refer as much as
possible to the advantages Of civilized
life over the ~barbarOuS; you might
mention the theatres you see there,
the nice things 0 eat, warm fires,
niggers to cook and bring In wood;
a special reference to nice beef-steak
would be advisable. You know our
being reminded of these luxuries
makes us contented and happy. When
Z ACOA OA yOO pCORlS ~ IOIL10 C0A-
ing turkeys and miuce pies and get
ting drunk Christmas and having a
fine time generally. We become more
and more ~reconciled to this country
and would not leave it for anything.
I must close now as I must go and
dress for the opera Write soon.
Yours truly,
w. 8. PORTER.
DR.. W. p. Beall, Of Greensboro, was
one Of O. Henry's dearest friends. Be
tween them there was an almost
regular correspondence during o.
Henry's first years In Texas. The
following three letters, full Of 0.
Henrys characteristic fooling and
playful sarcasm. have such a special
interest for North Carolina that they
are here reproduced in full:
La Sale County, Texas.
December 8, 1888.
Dear Doctor: I send you a play
a regular high art full orchestra, gilt.
) edged drama. I send It to YOU be.
4 cause Of old acquaintance and as 6
revival Of old associations Was
not ready in times gone by to gener
Ously furnish q spatula and othe,
{ assistance when you did buy the sue
culent watermelon? And was it no
by my connivance and help that 70,
:: did OFT from the gentle Oscar May,
skates entfce? But I digress. I thinl
, that I have so concealed the identit.
Of the characters introduced that n,
n will be able to place them. a
: they all appear under fictitious names
: although I admit that many Of tn,
incidents and scenes were suggeste,
: by actual experiences Of the autho
in your city.
You will, OF course, introduce tn
: play upon the stage IL proper ar
I engagements q be made. I have no
. yet had an opportunity of ascertain
Ing whether Edwin Booth. John Nc
e Culloh or Henry Irving Can be secured
However, [ will leave all such mat
tiers to your judgment and taste
Some few suggestions I will max
with regard to the mounting of TIL
is piece which may be of value to yot
u Discrimination will be necessary i
n selecting a fit person to represent tn
e character Of Bill Slax, the tramy
The part Is that Of a youth of grea
beauty and noble manners, temporar
ly under a cloud, and is general
afhar 6iffn-J1f tn Gil rrorarl,- tn