(1st page)
 Dear Sir having been requested -
by William Richards to take charge of the little stock belong to the heirs of Sam Burch,
I proceed to drop you a few lines on the subject.  I have so far looked after & gathered
the horses just as I have our own, branding the colts & c.  The cattle I have
looked after as well as I could since I have lived here.  I married and moved here on the
Place Sam Burch lived at the time of his death last Jan a year ago nearly and
since that time I have watched & attended to the cattle that run here.  Some of them
were milked by Mr. Pearson & I no Ragsdale Uncle Billies Son in Law and Pink will
brand the calves soon.  Pink is living with me this year.  I furnish everything
& give him half his board.  Costs him nothing and if he is satisfied here he can have a
home as long as -

(2nd page)
he wants to stay.  Now for the stock.  There is several head of young horses.  Some of
them 6 or 7 years old & ought to be done something with.  I am willing to look after them
so long as I am in the horse business & there is but little likely hood of my getting out.
 I will gather them with our herd & brand the colts, attend to the cattle, brand the
calves too.  And it shall not cost the children anything unless I should have the horses
broke by your order as Guardian.  If so of course I should have to pay for the breaking
& either myself give one pony for to have others broke.  Now I would say this if you
want the horses sold  I think the best way to make them bring their value would be to
sell them at public sale on 6 or 12 months credit.  I believe they would bring more that
way than any other.  The cattle runs here and would suite me better to own them than
any one else.  I had thought of trying to buy them this fall -

(3rd page)
but owing to shortness of crop I can not do so.  If I look after the stock I will write you
ever now & then & If I can buy them next fall paying the money down for them, I will
let you know & let you set the price on them.  There are several who wants to buy cows
& calves out of the stock.  I believe I could sell some next spring If you wish me to do
so let me know.  The young stock is what I want.  Now Mr. Burch as a true friend of
Sam's I want to see his little orphans get the worth of their property.  I have the good
of the children at heart & in selling, if you wish me to, I will use my best exertions &
judgment to do them justice.  I shall require of you their Guardian a Power of Atty
legally authorizing me to sell the stock.  My trouble will nor shall not cost the children
anything what ever.  If you want any of the young horses sold write me  -

(4th page)
& I will do as you direct.  Only if the sales are not made lawfully I want nothing to do
with it.  I learned from my Uncle Lowery Scrutchfield that all that was needed was a
Power of Atty from you & this all would be need if you was the Legal Guardian.
If you want any reference I would refer you to any of the connection here or to
Sammie Burch who is with ?you?  Uncle Billy Richards asked me to take charge of
the stock as he would not attend to them I will water them and attend to them but will
not sell none till I hear from you & rec. power to do so.  Give my regards to all the
children.  Tell Jimmy I am living in the house I was building when I saw him last.
Pink is fat got 15 acres of very pretty wheat & looking around amongst the gals
considerably & ect.
 Let me hear from you soon
 I will write again
     Yours Respectfully
      Tom M. Pool