Dear Cousin, I highly congratulate you by wishing you a long to live and will to do. I will give you a small hint of my prospect if you will read it slyly and say nothing about it. You must permit me to relate it in my own way.

Since letters are writing and its come to by time
You please will excuse me if I send it in rhyme.
You'll see I'm not idle while some folks are sleeping,
For I too am preparing to go to housekeeping.

I have 20 young chickens that was hatched on the hay
And old Shanghai rooster to tell us when day.
I've a cat I call Tabby, a pussy quite neat,
To catch all the mice and then steal the meat.

I have two pretty heifers as every you seed.
They both have descended from white faces breed.
There's one I call Motley, the other one Pide.
I used to have three but the other one died.

I have a few plates and a no handled pitcher
Some might be content but I wish to be richer.
When I pick all my duckeys and finish my bed
Do tell me, dear cousin, want I do to wed.

I have but one beau, he is quite a brave laddy
Tho he can't pop the question, he's afraid of my Daddy.
Now all that is lacking is being begun.
A half of a wedding is better than none.

Eliza Brown