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Camden, Benton County, Tennessee, December 15, 1860

Dear Sister,

Your favor of the 18th inst. was received in due season

You complain that I do not write often enough, & Now, I think, I write very often to someone of you. You cannot expect me to write all the time. You need not go to the P.O. every mail to get a letter from me as sis says you do for I shall not write so often as that. I suppose you have a mail three times a week. do not you no What kind of team do they drive through Hope Corner now? I suppose they drive on runners now. We had about half an inch of snow a day or two ago but it did not last long. I shall not get to sleigh ride any this winter. They have no sleighs here - The source of political events will have much to do with my future course. The events of the past few weeks and the uncertainty in regard to the future has produced a very disastrous effect on all kinds of business here. We were experiences very hard times before the present difficulties across as the crops which have been very light for several years, were almost a total failure this year, and the people are compelled to import those articles which they ought to export -- I know not [inserted] what the future has in store for us but I shall not be surprised if there is civil war - I do not apprehend any personal danger to myself in remaining here, happen what may as I have plenty of friends who will stand by me [inserted] in any extremity. Still I cannot mistake my [corner torn off] ask the future -- I closed a five month session [corner torn off] I do not purpose to take up another school ah [corner torn off] W.H.'s school closed the same day with [corner torn off] I shall go over to Waverly next week I think