Laurinburg N.C.
Feb 5 1889

My very dear Auntie,

Mr. McIntyre told me at breakfast that he would very probably go to Laurinburg some time today and even if it is Thursday morning I have laid every duty aside and determined to write to my dear precious Aunty who is so far from us. We received dear Uncle Duncan's letter Saturday and as usual we were all so delighted to hear from you both. I feel sure he would feel that it was an hour well spent if he only had an idea how we prize his letters. I can not begin to tell you how sad it made us all feel to know you were so unwell, but we earnestly hope and pray you are now entirely well. We could talk of nothing else scarcely yesterday & each of us wished so often we were only able to go at once to you & nurse you. God only knows what a blessed privilege I would consider it to be able to nurse you & to contribute yours & Uncle Duncan's comfort in some way. I write this morning to beg you & Uncle Duncan to come on & stay some with us. Yes, stay a long time, I know of nothing that would give me & indeed us all greater pleasure. I believe it would do you both good. You have only just you two to support, then why not since you are both getting old. Spend what you make in visiting those who love you so dearly. You must not again say that Sister Mollie is the only one who thought enough of you to pay you a visit. It. You ought to know how glad we would be to go to see you if we were only able. My good husband failed in his crop last year & could not pay out. So we will have to practice more economy. I never knew times as hard in my life. I am expecting my own Mamma to see me next week to stay probably several weeks & you can well imagine how delighted I am now if my family havens been to visit us since our marriage in June if I only had you & Uncle Duncan here at the same time.
My happiness would be complete. I wish you could know my big fat Mamma I know you would love her & she could not help loving you. We have all been real sick with terrible colds for some time. Aunt Harriette seems to get over hers slower than any of us indeed she has been confined to her room now for several weeks. Tis true she is not seriously sick but you know how very prudent she is & she is so much afraid of taking fresh cold she keeps herself too close we all think. The rest of us are on our feet again, I know of no news especially to write. Bell & her family are well. They too have all been sick with colds.
Bro Charles & Sis Flora are about as usual. Poor Bro Charles is at his old habit, indeed I often wonder how his constitution can stand it. He is beginning to look right old. Sallie McLaurin who married Angus McKinnon has a little girl as has Archie Malloy's wife. Poor old Mrs Purcell, Mrs Cotles mother died last week, was sick only one day (paralysis) Mr. Bob Clark & Mrs. Dan Everett of Laurinburg both died last week. Poor Mrs. Jim McRae is still very feeble & cant help fearing she has consumption. Dr. Prince says she has had pneumonia but she has been sick now since Nov. & has not been able to go any where for several months. Mis Laura McLaurin is still in Norfork & says nothing about coming home the rest of the family are all well. I have been real smart lately I think I have pieced up two very pretty quilts since Xmas & Ma & I quilted a comfort out last week. I got entirely out of something to do & am trying now to lay up something for house keeping something of my own. I made $4.50 myself & bought me a beautiful little table, marble slate for my room & a nice rug. Everything I can make myself I want to lay out in something useful for coming years. My head & heart are set on a neat pretty lia set now & I am going to work until I can get that next. Well, as Unck Duncan says, "I had better stop since I have nothing more to say."
All join me in tender love to you both. Please one of you write to us at once if only a few lines & let us hear how you are. We all feel so anxious about you. May God in his mercy bring us to gather again on earth in health & comfort is the prayer of your devoted niece.

Maggie McIntyre