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Letter from James K. Wood to "beloved madam" and wishing to propose marriage except for his poor health and his belief that he will not live long as well as the death of his son's first and second wives. Transcription: Randolph County Jackson Creek December the 12th day 1873 My dearly beloved madam I now seat myself to try and drop you a few lines altho I am scarcely able to sit up my health is very feeble and I fear that I never shall enjoy good health any more. I don't want you to think that I am trying to deceive you by making promises and breaking them that is not my principle I know that we have to answer at the bar of God for every word we say. I wrote you the reason that I did not come to see you at the time we set when we was together I wrote to you when I would come and I got already to start but I was as unwell and felt so bad that I had to give it out now my dear I fear that my health is so bad and my strength so feeble that I should not be able to treat you as I would wish to. Notwithstanding I love you dearly and would like to have you for a wife in preference to any one else, but from all present appearance I shall not live long it perhaps would be better for us both not to marry but if it should please you to restore my health again so that I can be able to work and provide for a wife I shold like to see you again I would like to see you any how for your company is very agreeable to me and if you will please write me a line and let me no when you will be at home if I am able I will come and see you and we will talk these things all over and if we never meet again on earth let us try to meet in heaven where we will enjoy each others company to all eternity. I received a letter last week from my son Marquis L. Wood stating that he had lost his second wife leaving him three little children and his first wife left too what he is to do I can not tell he is up in Iredell County I would like to go and see him if I thought I was able give my best respects to your father and mother also to your Cousin William Redwine and his wife I shall always respect them for their kindness to me at the camp meeting I commenced this letter several weeks ago and though I would send it write of but my health got better and I thought I would not send it but go and see you myself but it seems like Providence works against me in this case for every time I set to start something comes in the way and prevents me this week I thought I would certainly go but before I got ready behold I was taken sick so that I have not been able to set up much for two or three days but I assure you my affections for you is as great as they were I hope you will not think I am ? you I stated in the forepart of this letter that, that was not my principle I therefore hope you will write to me one more time as soon as you receive this and let me no whether you still want me to come if I should git well I believe I should enjoy better health if I had you to live with me I will say no more this time let me hear from you soon yours ? James K. Wood

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