Nashville March the 20 1874

My ever Dear Sister Electa

You cannot think me very dear in not writing to you, but alas I cannot frame no excuse only negligence. I cannot rember the last letter I rec from you but I believe it was about the time Uncle Ben Davis died. I do not remember wheather I have answered it or not, with me time flies fast that is bearing me to my long home, but I do not wish to complain now wish my time long or short but hope to resigned to the will of God in all things, the Lord is & has been very good unto me all the days of my life, therefore would I desire to be thankful. My health is & has been very good through the summer & fall, during the Chollery times. I went up in the Country on the Farm & stayed some 3 or 4 weeks. It was a very distressing & alarming time all that could& was able to get away left for the country, & watering places. I cannot paint the seen to you but as I live close by 2 undertakers I had a great change to see of its awfull hand. one day it was published that there was 127 died in one day & doubtless, that was not all everyone felt the effect more or less. Some took provisions & went to the woods as they could not find accommodations business of all kinds was suspended, it is called now healthy as is common, but times are called very hard and dull in the month of May. I was more than Buisey from Sept to Christmas.

I have kept 2 gifts have one with me now a going to school we have had very interesting meeting, this Winter I have enjoyed then the best I ever have since I have been hear. Prayer meetings, hear are not conducted as they are where I used to be few are called on to Pray no one says any thing but the Preacher, my past life now more then surprised me, I have no desire to have my life over again. Sometimes I rejoice that my days are so past numbering up—then again I fear that I like Moses may never be permitted to enter Canan the promised land but God hath sed come unto me & be ye saved. Dear Sister how is it with you are you ready waiting & prepared for the coming of the Son of Man we according to the course of nature have not many years longes to lives let us try & live so we may meet each other in a better world.

We have had a very pleasant winter no snow but once some got out there sled for sport but you could hear them grit & grind so they did not want not many Bells. The Peach tress are now in Bloom but I fear there may be frost & injure them we are now having much rain. I don’t think this is much of a Farming country as it subject to either wet or dry but still the country is kept up still flourishes, & populate, both with white & Black. I wish you could come & see me. I would take all the pains I could in trying to showe you the Southern Stile, but that would be nothing in comparison to the joy in meeting. Once more I often think of you & wonder if you are old like me. My hair is quite gray & I can see my faculties & memorty are failing me but still my health is good. Write to me & let me hear from you

Your Sister, (Sapphire?)