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But I hate to make a beginning any where else; and it will be more convenient for me out on the line; and perhaps too cooler too . At Wm. ? everything is natural, & I can do as I please and be bored horribly. You know I can not talk - especially when I have nothing to say. Out on the Line I can do as I please having no body but myself to suit. Edwin Smith you know is keeping boarding house at the Station; does very well. I talk of putting me up a bed some where in the unfinished buildings and being very comfortable there. D.L. Phillips of Jonesboro, formerly Rev. D.L. Phillips, since Pay Master, and Land Agent on 1st Div. was here last week. Came on Monday 19th, went up to Centralia & back with me, and left on Friday 23d. While I was gone came Prof. or Dr. Stevens; a Geologist sent around by the R.R. Co. to examine onto Coal lands etc. He has made quite an examination into the Coal Field in this county; North & East of Du Coign station; and pronounces it very good & valuable; is very highly pleased with it. Now why did I not invest more in that region? I have never supposed t was so valuable. If it is it will be the finest thing to make our Du Coign property valuable. I have been so busy had so much to do I could not be with Dr. Stevens; but Mr. Keyes has been around with him everywhere. Ettie you wrote all about Mayo, of his getting strong & far, whereat I was pleased but you did not write of your own health & strength. I suspect that you do not get strong & far yourself fast enough. I fear you do not follow my directions. How is it? failing to get seamstresses, have you been sewing all the time yourself? It is the worst thing you could do. Oh Ettie if you would only let the sewing alone, & spend most of the time in pleasant weather out of doors, or amusing yourself somehow in open air if possible. I had much rather & it would be much better for you to do the house work than to sew so - sew so,- so so