December 25, 1903

[envelope]
               Miss Nursie Whaley
                               Medart
Wakulla Co.,                         Fla.

[2x 1-cent stamps]
[postmark]
ASHMORE
DEC 25  1903
FLA.

[back of envelope]
CRAWFORDVILLE
DEC 26  1903
FLA.

MEDART
DEC 26  1903
FLA.

[body of letter, page 1]

Dec. 25th 03

My Dear Nursie:
                                 I have
but a little time to write, but
will send you a note any way
if you will excuse pencil. I'm
feeling "awfully tough' to-day - have
been up quite a bit at nights
this week and overworked in the
daytime. I dont mean to say that
I have been off at nights for I have
not, but have been at work later
and have had to wait for trains
as Major and Quintus have been
off every night. I did not go to

[page 2]

                   2
CK.'s commencement last night.
In fact I didnt want to be there. Arthur Tully
came out and went with Major
+ Quintus. He took Carrie home.
Quintus took Octavia and I dont
know who Major went with. If
you could have gone I would too
but as you couldnt I didnt
care to go. Nursie I do hope
your Papa is getting better by now.
   I know from sad experience
what it is to have some loved
one ill and I sympathize with
you. I hope you will be spared
what I have gone through with for a
long, long time yet. Nursie I

[page 3]
                   3
have heard this week that
the people out there have quite
a joke on my about the last
Sunday I was out there. They say
I walked all the way out there  to
see you and then told you that
it was "cold riding". I did
ride out there, but I dont
mind telling you I had to walk
home. I intended staying with
"Jakey", but couldnt find him.
   I didnt think of going that day un-
til Capt. Raymond Cay's hack come
along and Joe and I stopped it and
went out in it. I tell you how
it was, but I dont trouble to tell
other people anything about it. I

[page 4]

tell them that I would walk
further than that to see you - and
I would. Well sweet heart I cant
write now as I am bothered so,
and it is getting late and I
have got to send some money to
the Chief of Police in Tallahassee to
pay one of our negrous out of jail
so will have to stop. Nursie if I
am well Sunday I may come
out there. I think I have fever
now. I want to see you so bad

[page 4, perpendicular]
my darling.
   Hoping to see
you soon, I am
          Ever your,
             John -


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