This letter has been copied and pasted without any corrections to keep it original

Dear Husband 

In answer to yours which came in hand a few days Since and found all well and doing the the best we no how - your fruit trees has come and i went and got them and planted them out - you sayed to mark the hogs  ive have marked all that didnt die  the rest of them are looking very  fine there is thousands of _____ yet plenty to last even till Spring-- 

Moley Bobs Wife is here bin here since sunday She stayed at Mr. Wards seven or eight days and 10 or 12 at Thads and is here and She dont no where bob is at  left here a  few days ago to hunt a place and have not herd  from him since-The partys that rented the Wheat ? place have backed out  wanted Thad to furnish 10 or 15 dolars to repane the houses and deduct it  from the rent dont no of eny one else wanting land and will have to let it stand until you come home- well there has bin some killing in McDade Bose  Heffington was kild there a few nights ago in the dark no one was present the parties met on the street  near the market and both parties shot but neither party culd be found and it was a mistry for a while.what  _____bose  recieved the first shot through the left lung and brok and runn out g. milltons paster  and went to miltons house and told about it- he lived about forty eight hours and made  an afendavit and swore  to it  and it was against Jeff fitzpatrick and jeff has not bin seen since  Walter sayes he is very proud now and going to bring him a saddle  The cowes are very poor on account of eating acorns still I have rote  all that is of eny interest. will close by saying I wis you would come home as soon as you can           Your Wife Isabell  

(it appears this letter was folded and an extra note added to the end of the paper as the writing appears upside down when looking at the front page of the letter.written above Isabellas heading of "McDade Bastrop December the 10th 1883" is the following) 

 Bill says he has quiet crying and will give you some Eggs to make you an EGG Nog when you come home

 SPELLING LEFT AS IN THE ORIGINAL – TRANSCRIBED MGM

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