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2 feared loosing, was almost gone. the time was up and J. had writen a letter went to mail it, deeding it to a man for just
what was to pay on it but just then he recd a letter from Brother David with a five hundred dollar check later Willis Hand
sent one hundred dollars which cleared the payment, payed the taxes on the whole a little more, but in the fall he will again
be at the mercy of the R.R. co fears he will have to tose it all as a payment of one thousand dollars arrears, too perhaps,
will have to be made on the two sections (about three thousand will clear the illegible ) the third section being school land,
is to be payed by one hundred dollars a year payments for about sixteen years. J. says he would be willing to let it all go
with his three thousand dol. worth of impro- 3 -vements also about fifteen hundred dollars which he personally has payed
on it, if he could only get enough to pay Sarah out of it, could get anything to do to make something to live on pay debts
but there is no prospect of making a living, debts out of the question. God only knows what we are to do. John is perfectly
discouraged held down with seemingly incumountable difficulties old new does not know what to do or where to turn. after he
got rid of the horses (which was sold at a big loss) J. was partly promised help to buy some sheep to put on the place which
seemed to him others to be the best investment, but it was so late when he got through with the horses, he was put off for
it till another fall no certainty of it then. 01400 6 with you I dreamed you were here the other night. I hope you are
not writing too hard. I hear you are going to write for The Century again. We have not heard that Mary family have moved to
Kearney yet. we anxiously hope they will make us a visit on their way. we are better now but have all had this La Grippe or
influenza except May. John John had it light. it griped my hard for two weeks but I am much better but so nervous. Give my
move to Louie the children, what a comfort pleasure the little girls must be to you all now, also remember me to Dr. Mrs Strentzel.
pardon me John if I have done wrong in writing this doleful letter, but your kindly sympathy is precious As Ever Maggie
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