My letter of yesterday was to [too] late for the mail, so I add these lines today - At 9:30 last night Bro Sudbery [Brother Sudbery] handed me your thrice welcome letter of the 26th inst [instant – Monday 26 Mar 1888] which I perused with eagerness. I knew you owed me a letter and on that account I allowed a press of business and cares to delay writing you again notwithstanding I knew full well that you gardening and homework coupled with the fact of the children bringing me word had been your excuse for not sooner writing me. After writing you yesterday I left the Council Room [Quorum of 12 Apostles] at Dark with Frank [Franklin Richards Snow, b. 1854] & E.D. Woolley [Edwin Dilworth Woolley, b. 1845] on a stroll and making calls. Found Lusie [Lucy Smith Wright Snow, b. 1867] & Artie [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] snugly ensconced in the old Adobie [Adobe] School House. Inside the Stone Wall with their children. The Large room partitioned into three by curtains & light frames, and Lusie [Lucy Smith Wright Snow, b. 1867] mixing bread in the East wing now converted into her kitchen. Next went to Aunt Haddies [Harriet Maria Ashby, b. 1834] and found Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] and Martie [Martha Ellen Snow Keate, b. 1865] who had Just arrived from Provo [Provo, Utah] eating Supper and Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] at his Studies and Ashby [Ashby Snow, b. 1867] suffering from an attack of Nervous headache (induced I think) from laying awake after coming from Threatre [theater] previous night and freting [fretting] over a report that had reached him about the prospect of Tonys [Anthony Woodward Ivins, b. 1852] mission. Now about the proposed mission let me here repeat that if he goes to Mexico at all, it will be to study Law and act as Attorney in and for our colonies in Chihuahua. But all the time necessary to close up his affairs in the South will be granted him and he will be allowed his own choice & time about taking his family there.
I have recently sent money to M.P. Romney [Miles Park Romney, b. 1843] to pay for Nails, glass, points of fruit Trees, vines, flowers, bulbs etc which is about ready for use, and also to pay for $60.00 month and been set out on my lot and being cared for by Bro. Bloomfield.
Elder M.T. [Elder Moses Thatcher] is appointed to go with me and we have to visit Maeser or the Maracoopy [Maricopa Arizona] Stake enroute which will perhaps necessitate our taking the route via California, but not likely before May. Don’t know yet whether Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] will go home with Martie [Martha Ellen Snow Keate, b. 1865] & Ashby [Ashby Snow, b. 1867]
[Written upside down at top of letter]
Perhaps in my next I may be able to foreshadow & name about the period when you & some of your girls may get invitations to go to Mexico. I am glad at your home fruit culture.