please excuse this paper as I wont write this pen[?] and I have not time to get any other C.E.B.

 

Pulaski, Va, Nov 9, 1893

 

Dear Miss Lydia

      your most  welcome letter came to hand all OK a few day ago was real glad to hear from you once more as I have said before    I am glad to hear you enjoy reading my letters it gives me gr great pleasure to know such a pretty girl as your selfe enjoy reading one of my poor letter’s I Cant m wonder how you manage to read them at all. Sometimes I cant hardly read my letter’s my selfe.

      Yes my visit to Hylton was a memorable time at least it was with me for time and longer if possible I dont think I can ever forget it at all if I wanted to and I know well enough I dont want to. I am glad I did not Impose upon good nature I will give it a nother test some other time I want to w come over some time this winter. I saw John Hall the other day & He had j just returned from Floyd. but he said he never saw you at all while he was over he said he done up the fellow that was with his girl           

      To be shure I remember about going south well I am ready most any time now perhaps it would be a good Idea to wait and see how hard this winter is going to be would it not I ready most any time now It has been very cold here but it is very warm here now but dont know how long it will stay that way I hope it will not be near so cold as it was last year as you say we will freeze to death or all most as that would be worse

      yes miss Crockett is at Pulaski yet but she is going home Saturday or Monday one or the other but it dont much differance some one is a head of me as has always been my luck. I am verry unlucky in some respects & lucky in others I think I am verry lucky to have the privilage of corresponding with you if some body is a head of me I will live in hope if I die in dispair is not that the best way to do I have found it a verry good way my selfe if I do get left on every turn,

      So you think I am flattering when I say I care more for you than I do for Miss Crockett I sertainly do for a fact if you do like that other fellow the best I cant help it it seems. I expect perhaps you have been that way before now and you say and that might not be much well that is all[?][?] I care for you well I care more for you than you care for me. but I hope you do care something for me

      you must have misunderstood me in regard to ever loveing any girl at all I think I told you I never told any girl I ever loved them now is that the way. No dont I have seen several I thought I loved but dare not tell them so for fear they would tell me it was no use so I have avoided that point for love is a word of a great meaning why – did you tell me what when it was that Miss Hylton said about me I will bet she drug me I would like to know so I could return the complement