1^a Calle De Soto No 2 Mexico [Mexico City, Mexico] May 2d 1887 3 P.M. [Monday 2 May 1887]

Dear Elisabeth [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow, b. 1831], We are all Packed and start this evening for San Jose Station [Chihuahua, Mexico ?] where we expect my carriage and teams from Juarez [Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico] to take our Native emigrants onstage with us about fifty souls mostly from Ozumba District [Ozumba, Ozumba de Alzate, Mexico] and Terre Caliente [Tierra Caliente, Tierra Nueva, Azcapotzalco, México D.F., México]. Sister Paiz is here Children and all the other of the Paiz family except Juan & his wife who remain on the homestead at Itztecalco [Iztacalco, Mexico City, DF, Mexico] as they have not sold it. Concha and her mother & one brother & sister intend going but the father after being enrolled and all enouged [?] backed out and it trying to prevent the rest from going. They have taken their things from the house and gone he knows not where and was Just hunting them here. Horace [Horace Cummings] is expected from the South with the emigrants therefrom at 4 P.M. on Morolous Rail Road [Morelos Railroad ?] and Willie [William Spencer Snow, b. 1867] Just starting with a Waggon [wagon] to meet them at the Depot and carrying them and their baggage across the town to the Mexican Control Depot [Mexican Central Railroad Depot] where Helaman goes with the saints of this city to get tickets and check the Bagage [baggage] etc. I join them at 7 [7 PM] after Horace [[Horace Cummings] & I have finished some business in town.

Your anxiously looked for and exceedingly Welcome letter of the 21^st [Thursday 21 Apr 1887] mailed 22 [Friday 22 Apr 1887] at St George [St. George, Utah] reached me today noon [Monday 2 May 1887]. And it almost made me bound with Joy to think that you found the girls moved into your new house all so nice, and Flora [Florence Snow Woolley, b. 1856] with her new born Son [?] and rest of her children there, Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] Just arrived from Pine Valley [Pine Valley, Washington, Utah] to cap the climax In comes Ashby [Ashby Snow, b. 1867] from Provo [Provo, Utah], so by calling across the block to Libbie [Elizabeth Ashby Snow Ivins, b. 1854] & her children you have all your flock around you and yet the Rooster is not there to rejoice & crow while the old hen cackles and all the chicks rejoice. Well having droped [dropped] from the Sublime to the ridiculous - I will crow and flap my Pinions [= wing of a bird] out here in the Alameda - and look forward with pleasure & hope to the time when I shall enjoy all this once more with you all.

Now the Twins Lib & Sabe, and Loro [?] is he dead or his cage smashed that he is forgotten amid all this gore. You don’t even say how the babies get along with Loro. Or is it that your Mexican Pet is forgotten now that you are surrounded with so many older ones at home. Well God Bless you all and keep you in his hand from sickness and death and give you every needfull [needful] thing.

My health has been improving since I came here and lived on Mutton & Sister Paiz soups and Tomatoes & onions. I expect to find Erastus B. [Erastus Beman Snow, b. 1853] & Eyring [Henry Eyring] in our house when I get there. The latter arrived April 8^th [Friday 8 Apr 1887] & took possession and is fencing lots, putting in gardens etc. Our town ditch is a success. Carrion road completed saw mill safety in the Timber and a few brethren with wagons already in Strawberry & Corralous [=?] puting [putting] in crops. I regret the loss of your apricots and Peaches by post, hope some are saved as well as Grapes.

Who will look after the Big lot & E.B.’s [Erastus Beman Snow, b. 1853]? I suppose the rest of my folks and the good people of St. George [St. George, Utah] are well or you would have mentioned it. Well, Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859], if you will come and keep house for me in Juarez [Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico] I will send for a husband for you as I --- --- --- [blanks in original] Shall expect her and the other girls to write me often as well as your own Dear Self and will be pleased if the boys to can find leasure [leisure] from their field work and after labouring [sic] to write me occasionally. I will look for Franks [Franklin Richards Snow, b. 1854] reply when he returns from the City [Salt Lake City, Utah] Minerva [Minerva White Snow, b. 1822] says she can’t come without some company. Would be glad if she could meet me at El Paso [El Paso, T4exas]. E. Snow [Erastus Snow, b. 1818]

[Written in margins]

I have bought me another feather bed & pillow to take up with me. Who next needs it. Minerva [Minerva White Snow, b. 1822] writes me that she rented her Cooking Range with her land to F. S. Richards [Franklin Snyder Richards, b. 1847]