Transcription:
2 your father don't like to live here either so he often goes away somewhere else, it is nearly a week since he was here he
bought us a cow as we could not get along without milk we live in the house that Smith the founder lived in, a little nearer
the church there Deans? - the house is a very cold one it seems a mere shell I went to the farm for a week Sarah and David
and the children and Mrs Reid and some of her boys all came to Hickory hill to spend New Years Day . Margt is better than
she was, but not very well yet she has a girl to do her work we have lived here four weeks and not one neighbour has called
on us, however 3 our newest neighbour has sent in one of her boys to Borrow Mrs Parken has been visiting at Sarahs twice
she came up to see Mrs Mitchell she was inquiring after you. I hope you will not be long in writing the girls all talk of
writing to you but are so busy with their studies there teachers are so very strict, they are at home on Saturdays but have
to do all the washing on that day. I hope your health is good and I hope you will be happier this year than you have been
in any former year from your affectionate Mother