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Samuel Jackson to Sarah Jackson
Clifton May 4th 1858
Dear Mother
You doubtless think it strange that I do not write more often after an explination I hope you will not reprimand me. I have written several letters but was disappointed in not sending them owin,g to the failure of the mail we have a misserable mail Agent, the mail's are continuly deluged by his bad management.
So you see it is not in my power to write you as often as I disire. It gives my pleasure to seate my-self and collect my thoughts and have them conscentrated on one subject and bring to memory old associations which is the case when I write to you, or any one that has been with me at our old homestead. Pa expected to have started one day last week but was detained in order to make some arrangements about the building of the house. he also met with a slight accident a few days ago in getting his knee sprained. he was riding in the buggy up near the Bay when the mule took fright at some [illeg] he jumped out the mule at the same time made a turn which brought the whele against his knee, which caused some pain a day or two. he will probaly see you before this reaches you as he expects to start either too morrow evening, or next Friday. You are desirous of my returning with him as well as I can judge from your letter to him, which he received some days since. it would give me infinite pleasure to accompany him back but after looking at it in different lights and under present circumstances it would be but that I should remain here. no dependance can be put in overseers now days so I think it would be running a great risk to employ any one now this