[Written over address on envelope:] answered

[Written on back of envelope:] paying off note, ties, preaching

[Letterhead:]

My dear Cal,

A Merry Xmas and Happy New Year my boy! Am sorry you are not here so that I can watch you stuff yourself. Don't be too hard on a young couple just starting up housekeeping.

I am enclosing to you an effusion from the Bard¹ which I received the other day together with the note accompanying it. The old man is quite humourous.

Poor old Angus Sutherland died this morning at 5 o'clock. He had been ailing but was expected to recover. The old boys are getting very few now.

Your note has come due and I am sending a renewal to be signed. The interest amounts to 7.⁴⁰ to date. You had better let me have this amount and we can start even again. It would be just as well to keep reducing the amount from time to time as you can afford it. The Bank will accept money at any time and give you credit for it. You do not need to wait till the expiration of the note.

Remember me to Mr. & Mrs. Slater when you see them. The things you wrote for have all been sent out.

Your aff'te Brother

Tom

¹ The Bard is William Murray and the "effusion" is Box 12-491.