Kemp  July 25th  1857

Ever Dear Seb
    I have some paper at las and seat myself this morning to consecrate A portine of it to you.  It has been some time since I received your last Letter and I must tell you some of the intervening events up to this time or You'll think me careless (but Dear Seb  when I am due you a line I think the Oftener of you --)  but to my subject

   First Monroe came down with his little bride and there was some preparation Necessary both before and after his reception  then comes  (the next week) Judge Oliphant and Bob to see us and the last of the same week we went to Doc's  then to Icy's cousin Sam's  Jack's and Preaching in that settlement and Home by way of Doc's   My first visit (only in the settlement) since you and Minta went with me      On Friday after  we came home from Doc's  A H Watkins and family arrived on a visit to us and our Prairie home stayed full day before yesterday  then bad us goodbye and rolled for home in a fine glee although it was raining a little that morning    the first we've had in about 3 months I believe   it has kept showering once in awhile since    until this morning we had hard rain      the lake has filled up     It was entirely dry    only the part that was enclosed by the fence in the field   all say it has been the dryest  time ever seen here and worse of all tis too late to do our corn any good     it was earlier than the rest of the Settlement and as good as could be before the drought   Dick thinks he'll make corn enough to do him    he's alone  I guess as none of the rest in the Settlement will     We still think of our visit but if we do not come when you are coming home.  If I did not want to see you and Minta and Ma so bad I could not leave home that long

    George is going to fix up the Buggy soon     he expects to go through Anderson County    Cousin Sam is doing finely and only complains of not having work enough to do   The boys all want to see you very much    Seb says don't make a gap in his hatchet---and tell you he tends to the cowpen    We had more fish this week from kingsfork    Some very large cat    almost as much as I could lift     the boys had a find Sport muddying the water to kill them     even the old men were so excited they could scarcely keep out when the large cat would swim by them---My paper is filled-love to Mit and to yourself The undying love of

M. K. Watkins

Jesse sends Uncle Seb a kiss   he's been calling you some time (illegible)  me some seed if convenient    my garden burned up