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                             To Almeida

Dear sister

          I believe I did not get so much calico as your money would purchase, I do not recollect whether the two cents was handed me by you or Mother and it was not convenient to Charles to see me after he sold the eggs till I had bought the calico, so I thought I would abide by your last directions; the eggs came to .29 which C. gave me, so whatever there is left for you, I have, and will lay it out in thread or any thing you want. I was sorry I could mot get any more calico for R. Keen, it was all sold, - and still more sorry that I forget to say so in my notes.
   If you will send me a measure of length of shirt, waist, and size of neck, waist and arm, I will make a dress for Lucy out of one of my old ones, sometime before I go home in the fall. 
           ______ I had a thought pop into my head the other day which has rooted there ever since. it is that Charles, when he gets his money should buy your place for Mother's share: then he can keep the whole of his farm according to his desires and Mother still have a home of her own for herself and children: you said while I was there, that if you could sell your place for the money you gave for it, you should think it best to go back to Boston, & that t would have been better for you not to have bought, if you could have got the ready money that Charles owed you, any other way; now I think so too, it seems to me that a small, hard farm, away from a good market, and away from all privileges is but a poor chance for a good mechanic to get his living, especially when neither himself nor wife are strong and able bodied.