Author: RF Gustin
Title: Letter to Mrs. HE Cooper [Helen E. (Nelson) Branch Cooper]
Date: 02 November 1882
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:
Maitland, Orange Co
02 November 1882
Mrs. HE Cooper
Dear Friend –
Very glad to get a letter from you. Nothing would be more congenial to me than to be living with your folks [Moses & Nancy Nelson]. But fear lest I should add to their labour and duties. I would ask who does their work in the house or on the place. Since you are away I am very glad you are fixed up for the balance of your life. You ought to be thankful and happy I have proved (?) up my settlement of my homestead and am ready to sell. But while you are talking Florida is looming up and looking hopeful. Think of the guava ripening its fruit every day, for ones lunch every day. How does that compare with the peach whose crop ripens all at one time. They are an astonishment to every one then. When your fine apples turn yellow, hang them up in the house and while they are getting mellow your house will be melodious with perfume, more than ten bushels of northern apples would make them …do not shrug our shoulders at the cold blasts of winter, but are in cozy circumstances all the time. Without care or responsibility. What ever, I have been here now near 7 years and am more acclimated to the climate. We have a Capitalist , a Connecticut man by the name of Clark. He comes here every winter and buys out people. He bought out a number of the Boston folks last winter. I think I will try him on this coming winter. Then if I [?] I will come and see you all next summer. Likely I work at the brick yard, here on the …and the boss pays me ten dollars at a time, before I do the work.
RF Gustin