Georgia Stewart Co – Sept 19^th 1851

Mr Scarborough

Dear Friend this morning affords me with an opportunity of [ ] you a few lines I have pleasure of saying to you my health is tolerable good at this time my Family is well except James & Thomas bo are labouring under [cold] James is confined to his bed Thomas has got up & about this is but little [ ] heds colds I believe is all wee have I hope you arrived Safe at home & has Recoved from your attact of fever I have had [some] fears of your Relapsing [ ] I hope not [ ] has nothing occurred since you left worthy of your attention James married Tuesday night after you left I have Received 1 letter from Sarah since you left Also Thomas & Mrs Narrell has Received 1 apeice his health has Improved She thinks She will start home some time in October the lord grantit you know that my life is but little satisfaction to me I have not sold out yet the decline in cotton has made people cautious also they are pushing to the [ ] countys they will soon tire [thare] but let them go if I go atall it will be to the west others do as they please I hope you are satisfied Contentment is greate gain god grant I may yet Have a contented minde tho I do not expect it god is able to do all things it is to him I look for All my help o that I may act aRight & do his will Dr Turner says he cannot Raise the money for Harriette [Predden] Williams has come home from Chambers co he says that [barker] will give 1000 Dollars in cash for harriette barker is a brother in law to my wife he married [presmetia] horn my wife Did not like like them therefore if he was to offer the fifteen hundred dollars he whould have her I think harriett would be pleased to live with that vina [I] Rather you would have [hir] than any person I know She is a good negro & I would like [hir] to have a good master if you want [hir] [P ] soon as she is for sale I would glad to see you before I go west if I atall cant you come & see me before I start I like to come & visit you before I go you know that I am old & weakly I don’t think I can come You must excuse me if I do not come it is not for want of Respect for you & family I would like so mouch to see melvina & Amanda My dear wife thought so mouch of them it gives me a double attachment for them My dear friend you know that all my earthly happiness is fled is gone for ever if I was worth millions I could not enjoy it with out my dear wife I have but a few Days to live in the troblesom world I want to spend them in the service of god that I have suffered His will on earth I ascend to the mansions of blis Thare to join my dear wife & [hir] 2 little babes in [padise] to god that has [biner] so good to me if get thare I want all my friends to meete me thare [ ] parting will bee nomore how is yor health how is yo family the health of your brothers family give them my Respects [Rite] [Soon] I will wait to from you I am looking for a letter to day from Sarah god grant she may ee able to come home it will bee a greate comfort to I feel that I am ruined & undone for ever I must come to a close by saying I still [Re]main you friend & well wsher

Burns