I an gradually getting the family letters transcribed. I pour over each and every one of them trying to extract any little tidbit of information. This one mentions "Griff" who I'm pretty sure is a first cousin. The date is June 21 93 which would have been before Illda was born.
Just to remind you, I did the transcribing. I corrected no spellings or punctuations. I only broke the letter into paragraphs for easier reading.
Toledo June 21st 93
My dear Parents bro + sister
I rec’d the postal asking why I wasn’t well I am ashamed of it but it is work and sleep. I am afraid two sleep too much, but it is so hot the sleep I get don’t do me very much good. Still I am just as fat as ever. I wish you could see my new fishing rig. It is a beauty. I shall be over in August to try it. It hardly seems as if I could wait until then but I suppose I’ll be obliged to.
What nice weather this is. How are all the crops looking? I just feel I could lay under an apple tree for about three days without sleep or eating. Well suppose you all are just as jaded only you have good sleep and 8 or 9 hours at one time.
How did Claud enjoy himself when he was down? Griff is down this week. We have some new curtains. I got Min a nice guitar and next week she will have an organ for a birthday present.
Well I am getting along quite well for a green horne. I had a little bad luck last Saturday night. I was nearly into Marshall. It was very foggy. I felt a little jar. We had run into an extra that had broken tow and that not sending a man back far enough puts all the blame on them. I was sorry too for it smashed my engine and their caboose very badly. No one was hurt. I was very glad of that. My head man and eng’r + fireboy all jumped.
I shall not wait before writing again. I think I shall go to a lake Sunday.
Well I shall close for this time.
Hoping you hear good ______ full of everything coming your way. I am ever your son and bro
D Austin
