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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.