[I believe this letter is from William Preston Smith to Theodore "Cheddy" Smith". Unfortunately it is fragmentary.]

Rock Sound

1^st Jany 1893

Dear Ched,

A few days ago, I received by mail the photographs of sister and yourself for which please accept my hearty thanks. Sister's I have already put in a frame and hung up in my parlor, but yours is still on the centre table. If I had a frame I suppose I would have [?] on you and fix it up, but I fancy you are perfectly aware that such an article as a picture frame cannot be purchased in this city. I was dumbfounded and conf… to find that no letter or letters …

You know although I am ashamed … I do not know your wife's Christian name. Will you let me know when you write again. give my love to her. I wish you both a Happy New Year.

Georgie gave birth to a little girl 2 weeks ago. It was an anxious time for her mother and myself, but thank God she is at present fairly well. Mother wrote me two days ago. She states that Frederick Griffin and Edgar Bethel died on Christmas day so their festivities were somewhat hampered by these two sad events …

And please when you do write me again, try and leave out some of those admirable adjectives, such as lean, lankey, for I assure you I am in neither condition. I feel pretty solid and am gaining flesh in my declining years. I thought of Lawrence poor fellow last night when the Wesleyans were singing the old hymn "Come let us anew our journey pursue" and to the same tune which they were singing when I heard his first baby cry announcing that a visitor had arrived I said that boy is this minute 44 years old. Ah me!

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