Nashville Oct. 1st 1850

Dear Sister

I have treated your letter so long with silence that I hardly know how to begin to answer it at this late a day. But here you for some sort of answer; you know that I always jump at any thing that I go at even if it is as small a thing as pretty Girl who I want to kiss don’t shaw non; for I have given up all the girls and am going to making money that giver of the world, You no doubt will be surprised learn the I am living in this city. I have been living here for three weeks in a wholesale dry goods store with a very clever gentleman by the name of Meredith. I am getting a pretty good salary $300 a year and my board which is a $150. I will get next year 6 or 700 and then I will be able to carry out a project I have had in mind about you but was not enabled to carry it out for the want of funds

It takes a good deal more to dress and support a young genteely here than it does in [?]. I will save all I can though and dress decently. I was very much assured at your account of you life at Aunt Louisse who is one of the best women in the world. I should liked very much to have been there to have to have broke you. You know I would have scolded you soundly and when that would do no good I would have resorted to the [?] and made you dance around worse than you did. I am afraid that you will not have a chance to dance at my wedding as I fell ou with one of me sweethearts which made me give up all the balance but never mind I will pick up another one before long.

I wrote to sis about two days ago but have not received an answer yet—I got some very bad news from Brother Frank. The other I heard that [?] had turned him off for giving to [?] I am afraid that he not doing right. I intent to get into business here if I can but it is bad chance. I am afraid I will watch and if an opening occurs I can get him in.

Give sincere love to Aunt Jane and tell not let that Black Eyed guy of her forget how to dance as I want to make a dancing master out of him. Also give my love to Uncle Hiram. I will be over this Winter and take a bigheart with him—my love to all the Boys kiss little sis for me.

I have not time to write any more. I have written this in about twenty minutes and have not time correct the mistakes. Write immediately to your affectionate Brother,

J. L. Davidson.

P. S. My respects to Miss Cooper and Sally

John