O'Neal Letters, Part II, Jun 19, 1878 "the lonesemest place in the world"

Letter from Lucinda (Lou) O’Neal (McBride) to her brother Bill O’Neal. I believe the reference to Mat in the letter is her sister Martha, about 13 years old at this time of this letter.

Clay Co. Texas, Jun the 19 1878 Billy, i will try to write you a few lines this evening to let you here from ous again. we are all well and hope that this will find you well. well i got your letter and was surprised to here that Uncle John had gone back there. well we have plenty of rain these times. i tell you the folks that live in the ground has a sweet time. the water runs in at there doors until they cannot hardly stay in them at all. there is some sickness here since the rain has begun. Pa is still trying to brake land yet. one of the mules give out and he can not do much good. it was the one we got from Jim Crownover. she was the no countest mule I most ever saw. I would not give that pony we give for her hardly for two such mule. well i will tell you we had some Indians in our Country last week. They did not do anything that we have heard of yet. they was seven of them. they was at the first house. i have here they sayid that they was a mooveing (moving?). they first told that they would be thre thousand along the next day and then they told they would be only five hundred and from that to only fifty so no more has come along yet as we have heard of. no body nows what they was up to. they had thirteen ponys and wore bows and arrows pistols and one gun. they have guns here that shoots sixteen times. it was one of that kind. they swoom read river (Red River?) and went on in the nations. well me and Mat and Johney has done one thing since we have bin here we never done before. we stayed all night by our selves. we was looking for pa to come back from town and he did not get back and we had to stay by our selves. there is no guardens raised here to say any. there is no fruit for the country has not bin settled long enough to have any trees big enough for to have fruit. i have seen one orchard planted out sence we have bin here. the trees are about three or four feet high. the wind looks like it will blow them plum away but the little fellows stands it well. i am all the one of ours that has made any things sence we have been here. i saved enough for a woman to get one old hen and nineteen little chickings and a very good table. Bill, Johney says to tell you that he had him a bow and arrow and kills grasshoppers for the chickens. he says to tell you to send him your picture for he does want to see you. I no that this is the lonesomest place in the world. write soon and often from Lou O'Neal.