Shady Grove, Hickman Co., Tenn. Mar 21, 1878.

Dear Mother:

I received your welcome letter of 7 & 8 in connection with Edward B. and was very good to hear from you that you were all well at home and to receive your picture. I think it is a very good one. I posted a letter to E.B. last evening before receiving his as I was coming from Tolly's Bend where we had been and held a meeting and where we have baptized two. So we have been the means of a few rejoicing in the Lord. Have baptized one in this Branch. There are a great many more believing and I think more will soon join. I don't know how much good we are doing but we are doing as well as we know how. I think the letters we have written have been delayed, by your remarks. Uncle has been wondering what was the matter of Mother and James that they don't write. But I expect that you are busy as usual as you haven't any hired girl but hope you won't try to do too much. We are going to Mt. Pennington today in Maury Co. 6-1/2 miles from here to hold meeting where we also held meeting last Sunday. We are well. Uncle gets a little feeble occasionally. We don't do a great amount of traveling only in this vicinity which is a very poor country showing that it has gone through a terrible shaking as it speaks of in the Book of Mormon at the Crucifiction of the Savior. There are two branches here. One at Tolly's Bend 11 miles from here which is made up mostly of the Tolly family, which is a very good family. They are very poor. It is a pretty good house in this country has windows in it. Their fireplaces are built of mud and sticks, but we do not look at this so much but take things as they come and try to be thankful.

One morning, soon after we came, I took a walk out into the woods and wandered around and went in a little Cot where there was a small family in poverty sure enough. After talking a while, I started to go, but they wished me to stop to dinner, so I stopped. And while we were talking, tears came into our eyes for the wind was blowing and snow was on the ground and they had to have both doors open to let the smoke out for their poor stick chimney was not so high but what the wind would blow the smoke back into the house. I do not write this to find fault, but to give you an idea of some of the conditions. But not all. For some are very well fixed. I assure you I get plenty of cornbread, which is very good, for their main product is corn and pork.

Well, I will have to close as it is time to start. Uncle and I went to the river fishing a little while today. But it is too early for them, but I caught one about ten inches long. Will close for this time. Love to you and all the folks and friends from your affectionate son, H. D. Clark.

P.S. The mail does not go out until tomorrow, so returned. Uncle spoke on the pre-existence of man. The house was full. Have received a letter from M. F. Cowley stating they were holding some meetings in that vicinity. They didn’t state when they would be here. We are going back to Tolly’s Bend as one of them is sick. From there to Palestine for Sunday. H. C.

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