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2021.0006.0003f2]
Lonesome Hollow [no date]
Dear Cousin,
If thee is at all glad upon the receipt of this thee must thank the indisposition I have been under for some days, for had I been well the harvest field would necessaryly require my constant attention. I know what thee will say to this "he wrote to me because he could not do anything else &c?" but I am writing as much for my own benefit this time as thine, because it is something to divert me and make me forget for the time that I am sick.
I was very much pleased at receiving a letter from thee, it being a thing of such rare occurance of latter times, this being the fourth of mine to one of thine, but that is about the ratio of value between the two and I will try to be satisfied with it.
We spent last first-day at Olney and of course saw plenty of company. Mr Goodfellow was there, the first time he has been up. He is a pleasant fellow but there is no accounting for tastes truly and I cannot think of him as being anything to Nettie he really looks insignificant when by her side. Thee must not attribute this to jealousy for in this instance at least the green eyed monster has no claim on me. The Baileys are a very nice pleasant family and Anna not the least so, ahem.
I have had to defend thee quite warmly on several occasions lately on account of thy neglect to answer letters that have been sent thee, though I have not intimated it to anyone else. I do not think dear cousin thee should not have insisted on persons writing to thee when thee away without making an effort to answer them. 1 have heard no complaint though, from one person for whom I mailed a letter at Mechanicsville first-day evening. I have been glad to hear of thy having such a pleasant visit, but think it has been long enough now, and that it is high time thee was feeling like seeing some of thy friends here, and I believe some of them would like to see thee right well.
And thee must bear in mind that we will look for a two or three days visit from thee very soon after thee gets home, as thee assurred me in thy letter thee had a desire to come, I feel willing to insist upon it. Edie camo down with us yesterday morning to stay until 5th day when we expect to go up to hear Uncle B. lecture.
I feel that this is like the essay the man with the toothach wrote, it gave anyone else the headache to read it.
Adieu: dear cousin and depend upon me forever as thy friend and well wisher, though "cold and indifferent" cousin
[s] R. B. Farquhar
Please remember me to Jane.