Pulaski City  
July 25 1896  
My Dearest girl  
     It is agan I have the pleasure of answering your kind and highly appreciated letter which came to hand a few days ago   Yes Laura had a very narrow escape     I was surprised to hear she drove in such a place as she did but the Creek had gotten out of its banks & the were a low place where it cut around at

      and she were driveing a bout in the water in the road & sh did not think it got any deeper so she just drove     in she was confined to her bed for two or three days. 

Glad you had a nice time visiting your Cousin. You never bothered me any Lane is the man you bothered had him to ride a mile or two     how is Lane & the girl now     he seemed to rather low spirited in that way     if he could talk halfe as well as he write he would be all O.K 
      I sertainly am glad to hear that Rosa got satisfyed with her lot while she was at Hylton     she is a verry nice little girl and Dr J A B H  has gotten up a case     I expect Dr is fixing to flirt with her     I would hate for him to do any thing like that     if was to she would loose all Confidence in man kind     she is rather timid any way but I guess he would be welcome to all he could flirt with her. I expect he will look shint him selfe 
      Well I did not get to come to the commencement hope you all had a nice time     how did Uncle Tom’s Cabin come off     would liked to have seen how it went     No indeed I never loved any of those girl as well as my selfe for I think a great deal of my selfe      [crossed out word] I guess you are a ware of that fact most all of the girl Nerere stranger except 8 two misses wainright? & Ms Ida sublet of our place all the next week

     from neighboring towns. you said Mr. Akers has been a round to see you agan      how did you make it this time.      Has Simon & Sam decided which school they will go to this year. you never said any thing about when we were to marry. I am afraid our case is loosing interest as I could not get you to name any day excet September. it is time were coming to something definite

      that is if you are of the same opinion   I will just say this that about 6th or 7 of October would suit me better than any other time but as I have said you suit your selfe & I will make it suit me & I will say this much    I about think that I will be able to buy us a home by that time but think will in a short while afterwards we will have to rent for a while until we could do better     as I have said  before I am a poor

      man but that should not keep us from being happy. love is the source of all happiness without which no couple should marry     well I must close for this time hoping to hear from you real soon I am yours devotedly 

PS.                                                   Ell. B. 

you consult with the boys & see when they will start for school E