Letter from William Jennings in Santarem, Para, Brazil, South America to his step brother Dee Johnson Vaughan in Nashville, TN, written Feb. 20, 1904. Dear Brother Dee Vaughan, Well, well, dear brother has the opportunity at last presented itself for me to write you the first letter in the long period of 37 years. I left you a young man and now I'm an old man of 56 years and with 4 grand children. This leaves me and mine, Thell and family, well and with luck to have plenty to eat. I really hope this will find you and family well and as fat as a hare, and enjoying all of luxuries of life. Thell tells me that you live first class. That is the principle luxury of life. I have been suffering from indigestion since 1893. I was four years running the rivers trading in the rubber business; in the swamps and caught the billious fevers. The Drs. said that I tore my liver to pieces throwing up so much bile; I just arrived from Portugal, Spain and Madeira. I was from home 30 months and received no benefit at all, though am feeling better since arriving at home. I am now making a 100 ton steamboat for my two boys; and just as soon as it is finished and get them started I shall be off to the good old world, where I can hear English spoken. I am tired of the dam old Portugues. Thell when he meets me he commences in his dam old plecoplae, plecoplae; now I say to him to stop that plecoplae and speak a civilized language. Thell is more like a dam Portuguese ______ than American, he is the grandest rascal after money. He finds it he know where it is. It seems that he has a special love for that brand of goods. He is making 10 dollars in milk and vegetables and makes no expenses, he only eats the rubbage he finds around the market and his cow pen. Brother Clem is working hard to pay him so he can go home. He said the winter he was in Nashville he found it so cold that the covers were not sufficient that he would have to move under Cousin Bettie like little children under their mother in order to get warm. I also didn't get along at all good with the climate in Lisbon and Porto, ____ de Madeira is a good climate. Brazil is not a bad climate, though too warm. If I had no children I would have been back long since. While there if my old mother hadn't got sick and sent for me I would have stayed in the States a good while and I'm sure to have gone to see you all and would have boarded with you some time. I left my oldest Euchardos (probably Eduardo - Edwards) in Chicago at the Business College, where he studied five years. He graduated in English, Bookkeeping and Commercial Law and speaks English and writes it much better than I can. He is now at Manaus for a few days. His wife and I just came from Thell's old pallias house. He lives in the midst of the Indians and looks like one, and I suppose he is the king of Tauxana. He don't care a dam. The only thing he only wants money, money, money, money. And when he gets back to Nashville if you don't take care he will pass you and Charles (Vaughan) making money. If you take the dam rascal and set his damed ass on a flat rock for six months, he won't die and will make money, and his wife is a bigger Jew as he is. Brother Ben is making money. He will gain from me for this boat two thousand dollars (Saw Mill). He sells a quantity of rum. He makes five times more money than Tell, though he spends it. If he was as close as Thell he would be independent today. Though he has money he has a Saw Mill and a Oteani rum factory. Ben is now going to put his rum factory to large scale. He is the largest farmer in Santarem. He makes his troughs for souring his cane juice and deposits for rum, also wagons and carts. Out and out he is a first class blacksmith. No man in Nashville can make a better wagon than Ben. He has nine yokes of oxen and first class. He doesn't spend one cent for food for them only to keep the pasture clear which is a tripe. From what Thell tells me I had rather work for my living in Brazil than there. I had rather perspire than be cold. Cold hurts. Oh I do wish to get back and set by a good fire and have some good long talks which I hope the Lord will grant. When I was in Portugal my youngest boy 19 years old died. Now only lives two boys 26 and 24 years old and one daughter 22. The oldest boy is married and one child. The daughter married and three children. I am mighty proud of my daughter in law and son in law. He is a business man and a first class bookkeeper though he only keeps his own books. Now brother Dee I just tell Jan T. had much rather see the Vaughan relations than the Jennings. How I would like to step in and give you and Sis Etta a good hug also Charley and Lelia and good old sister Fanny, Sister Liza and William McClain. Oh what a satisfaction it would be, hope and pray for that day. My wife is hoping to see the day for us to start for the States. She is going to be very pleased. She is a good sailor. She don't get seasick and waits on me in crossing the sea. I have been here four months alone. I suppose she will come down with her son in a few days. I don't like this life. I had rather be close to the old lady when I get cold. I have nowhere to get warm. She is fleshy and serves as a very good stove and comes in very handy at times. Brother Dee dam your old loving hide, hoping you will receive this as from a loving brother and write me a long letter with all particulars from yourself and family. I have seen letters from Sister Etta and see your name. I surely appreciate all letters from any one of our family from a long distance and 37 years. Great love to Sister Etta and family, Sister Liza and Fanny. Good bye. Your loving brother. William Jennings