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Samuel Jackson to Rachel Jackson Lawrence
Clifton Plantation May 22nd /57
Dear Sister
I have given up in dispair of ever receiving a leter form you. Ma sayed you had received a letter from me some time since And I have been looking for a letter from you for some time. I will however continue writing to you. And hope to recieve one soon. Pa And Andrew?arrived here on last Sunday, I wrote ma a letter which I sent on last monday, and after I sent it, I wrote a few lines telling her, they had arrive here And took it up myself. And got there just in time to send it. I had been expecting them for some time, and was looking for them at the time they came, but I was over at Col Claibornes when they came. Andrew does not like the country, and sayes he does not intend buying for Aunt Jane. I believe Pa does not like this place as well as he did at first, on account of the coco grass there is a greatdeal of it on this place, and where there is any in the cotton the cotton is not worth a cent. And in a few years I think it will be over the whole place. He spoke of going to see a place near New Orleans. I belive he thinks of stopping there on his return home, the prise of the place is $30,000. I told him I would not think of buying it. I would keep this place, three or four years any way and then if I sold and bought I would try and get our old home. I dont see the use of any one living, with out seeing some pleasure. I dont see the use in making money with out enjoying it. And as a nother thing, I have not heard the name of a minister since I have been here. there is a methodist church in Purlington where I belive there is preaching