Block Creek Tex
Jan 20 85

Dear Mother father this leaves us very well, We received your lettler a few days ago was glad to hear from you. You spoke of Billy Hall being very ill + not expected to live but a few days, tell me in your next what was the ---- with him. I have employed a cousin of Mollie's to clerk for me he arrived here the 20th of last month he is a nice boy about 16 years old + will be a great help to us as we were very busy during school, + I now have a P.O. at my store + that makes a good deal more work.
H. C. Sandefur spent Christmas with us he is teaching very successfully. We are having a cold spell at present had a little snow, was the first I had seen this winter.
Well Guy is a great big boy he can almost crawl Mr + Mrs Wallace sent him some nice presents Christmas also sent Mollie a I a very nice present.
I was at San Antonia week before Christmas buying goods I also bought a nice buggie + have the best buggie horse I most ever drove, my carriage is very nice has two seats + brake. I am in debt some at San Antonia but will come out all right in the Spring.
Mother you + father ------speak of coming to see you, if I had money that I could possiable get along without we would certainly come but it would cost so much to make the trip, that I dont see any chance for us to come soon. So I think you would better come + stay with us one year, think it would benefit your health.
Tell me if Ella Rideout has married if so who was it? if I ever heard I have forgotten.
Is S. D. Ashby living at the same place as he did when I was living with him, I guess ----- ------ ----- ----- gotten/gettin? time, Is Geo/v + Masy/Mary living at his Pa's yet? I believe I know where the rest is living, I would like much indeed to see you all.
I will close for this time Mollie will write next time

Yours ever D. P. Hall
Address Block Creek
Kendall Co Tex

tell all the folks to write would like to hear from S. D. Ashby