a usless wooman. It is fearful the sugar was consumed altho Alex has done all he could to prevent it. Indeed it never will be much better till we put them on regular allowance and live by ourselves with the boys. We have two cows here that calfed and we will have plenty of milch and Alex bought some barley which I make the woman that is cooking make soup of with Maorie cabbage which saves tea, sugar and meat over a day. I am doing all I can to take care and economise in every way. I had a letter from my dear wife written last April. They were all well then. She says Anabella went to school on the strength of John's letter where he sayed he was going to send them something considerable also bring her out but she is disapointed at not hearing from him. She would be the girl for this districk of any of them. They would soon save the expence of bringing them out. Know one can tell only those that have experienced the economy of prudent women the vast saving they are to a house particularly in a country place. I am going to plant potatoes in the gardin above the house with the spade also about half an acre so God willing we will done with this a[w]full expence of provisions.