“St. Stephan’s, Feb 23 80

Dear Father,

            I wrote you sometime ago but got no answer and you may not of got it. I thought I would write again as I have not much else to do as there is nothing doing [here] this winter at my business but lumbering is very brisk this winter [they] are getting out a great quantity as the market is improving West and the [probability] is that [lines?] wil be better [here] [must durns?] than it has been for a long time and it needs it [they] are about to build a large cotton factory [here] if nothing happens to stop it a few [weeks?] will [desids?] it I hope it will go on it would make [work] for all classes of people. [They] are able to build it if [they] only can [agree] the site that [they] will likely [sake?] is on site of where [cae?] live not ¼ mile from us this has been a very [small?] winter a little changeable and a good deal of [sreknss?] and a great many [deaths] among old people.

            The children [all] go to school and are learning every word. [They] only have to go as about the distance of [your] house is from the barn but it is nearly ½ mile to the [Sunday[ school but [they] go every Sunday. John is married again the woman he got was around here last summer looking for a hisband but she did not get one and I suppose the children are sorry she did not succeed here she is well enough but an everlasting tongue she is a widow her husband name was Taylor and her name was Hadock of St. Andrew's her brother is [Caver Grves?] in St. [Isleppeur?].

            Daniel wife went to [Neval?] last fall and David is there by this time his mother in [Cav panel?] there fair there David did not tell me so but we found out a way he did not expect we would he was very foolish for going so far away for he cannot get any better, [Lirmy?] there than he can get here we are all in good health at present and all [jorme?] in [sentry?] the love to you and [Krithe?] and at the rest of the family write soon.

From [your] affectionate
son Andrew McLeod”