Willis Fawcett - 1857-05-04

near San Marcos
Hays County, Texas
May 4th, 1857

To Eugene Gauss & Saml. C. McCleur
           Saint Charles, Mo.
                 I have wanted to write to you & others of my friends & relations during a long time back; but hot having any thing favorable to communicate, I prefered to remain silent -- In my judgement there is scarcely any thing more unpolite than to be anoying those with whom we have to do with an unceasing & habitual grunting - but as there are exceptions to all general rules, so there is to this complaining - for when a fellow is attacked with violent cholic his grunting or houling outright is pardonable!  Then know now that my financial affairs are rather in a spasmodic condition, and therefore I write you this letter.  I do not consider them in a colapsed state, yet the symptoms are sufficiently developed to urge me to bestir for a remedy.  I want you each to lend me $125.- that is $250.00/100  in all, for about twelve months; or until I can realize the proceeds from my clip of wool for 1858.   In consequence of the extreme drought of last season I did not raise an ear of corn or any thing else - and consequently have had to buy at high prices every thing that my concern has consumed - This happened too when I had strained my means to the last notch in buying & improving my home.  I do not consider any appeal to your feelings necessary. If I thought so there is an abundant stock of material in full view.
                 My sheep have been doing remarkably well during the last year - all without a single exception being in good health & condition.  Old dame Fortune seems to have relaxed her features considerably - she gave me 340 Lambs this spring which are now in a very thriving way.  The old & young just make out a 1000 head.  There is a much better clip of wool on them now than last year - say about 2000 lbs.  I would not take a $1000. 00/100 for the lambs - and the wool ought to net $600.
               Previous years I have sold the wethers; but what I now have are all of my own raising and as the Austin butchers will only give $2. 50/100 per head - and as the wool from each is worth $1. per year clear of all expense I think that to sell them would be paying to heavy an interest on killing the goose that daily laid the golden egg, - especially as my sheep would do much better to be divided into two flocks at  weaning time this fall - the Ewes to themselves & the wethers & Bucks in an other.  None of the wethers are over three years old and may be kept three more before decreasing in value - and by which time I hope the New Orleans Rail road will at least reach the Eastern line of Texas; when I may select the best season for selling at the Orleans market.
  I want Eugene to present my respects to Krikel & and instruct him to advertize & sell at an early day the three lots of land on the Marias crochi for which he holds the deeds - A credit may be given until the 1st of December next - so that I can realize the proceeds by the 1st January following.  Let K advertize immediately & forward to me a form of the proper power of Attorney or of the deeds & I will return the same with my signature &c.
               From the failure in crops last season & the late frosts & absence of rain (almost total) during the last winter & present spring, folks here are generally coming to the conclusion that this country is not adapted to farming, & if the failure should be repeated this season very many farmers & planters will take the back track.  But whatever it may prove to be for the plough, there is an undivided conclusion as to grazing.  It is generally believed to be equal to any other portion of the globe for cattle, horses & sheep.  I alude to western Texas.  Samuel could be particularly pleased to behold some of the cavilyards in our region - my nearest neighbor has about 500 head - Horse raisers generally take a start by buying Mexican mares & get horses from the older states - the proceeds of the cross shows an animal remarkable for action & durability.  And "by the way" Samuel, speaking of horses - my horse neighbor who is one of the best neighbors any body ever lived by was at my cabin yesterday & told me of a method of gentling wild horses which is new in this region.  To his statements I give full credence.  He says you may select the wildest animal in western Texas & he can make him perfectly gentle in a few hours.  You may be aware of the process, but I will venture a description any how.  After getting a rope around the neck of the animal the operator arms himself with a reliable stock of kindness & patience - approaches the horse at the head & after suffering the horse to smell his hand commences rubbing the horses nose, & progresses very slowly from the nose up the face on the head, the neck & as gradually over the entire external surface of the animal - the rubbing motion he describes after the fashion of the short & quick curry-comb motion - one idea must not be forgotten - if during the rubbing process the horse flinches or shies so as to get the operator's hand off from his surfase, it is indispensible to recommence at the nose - let this recur as often as it may let your patience take your hand back to the nose - for your horse will not be safe until you succeed in giving him an unbroken rubbing over his entire surface.  Of course the horse should be used for several days in succession to confirm the impression made upon him.  Sometimes a horse is so wild that is necessary to throw him - this is done most conveniently thus:  after you have operated on him sufficiently to get the bridle on & aproach his foreparts, place a cirsingle around his body; & then  raise his left fore foot up - fix a loop of rope around the pasture of the same foot & fasten it tight up against the cirsingle - then let another person approach his right sholder & lean gradually against until the horse falls over on his left-side - on the horse's falling the operator & his assistant immediately jump on him to keep him down and the rubbing is recommenced at the nose & concluded.  My neighbor says he intends to get up some of the wildest specimens of his stock & give his neighbors a practical demonstration of the operation - I expect to witness it & if I get any new wrinkle or have ered in the foregoing I shall write to Samuel accordingly.  My love to one & all

         Willis

Along the side of the page 1:
There is a plentiful scarcity of bread stuffs in Southwestern Texas - a great deal of corn is brought to San Antonio from Mexico in Mexican carts - I have used it as seed in my field of 20.  Many folks are ordering corn & flour from New Orleans.
 

Along the side of page 2:
Keyes staid with me last night and is in good health, except that his eyes are not entirely well yet.