My Dear Abram:

Recibí tu cartita con Felipe en la que me dice que le mande un bote a la bodega de Culi para el 10 de noviembre y hoy me agarran de sorpresa Bastard y Felipe, quienes dicen que quieren ir a trbajar algo con Usted primero. Así es que no tengo un bote grande pero les estoy diciendo a ellos que voy a ver si puedo conseguir el de Wilie Gordon y mandarlo más tarde. ¶ Hasta el 25 de agosto pude regresar de Jinotega. Fui bien recibido por los amigos de allá pero casi no he hecho nada de trabajo por haber estado tan mal el lugar de Tilba Crivan.

Toda tu familia en Jinotega estaba bien. Sólo lo la Niña M. Luisa [1] estaba algo enferma pero no de gravedad. Con Bastard le mando cuatro cartas, cumplí con todos sus encarguitos, tambien dí el vestido al Viejo.

Supe ahora después, por Jesús Duarte, que Rafael ya estaba en Jinotega tamaño gordo.

Don Cayetano había ido al interior a traer su surtido. Don Antonio estaba bueno.

Se murió la mamá de los Rizo, Doña Paula.

Las cosas siempre siguen lo mismo. La última noticia que tuve, en el interior todo tranquilo, sólo el lado de Segovia siempre lo mismo.

Mi comadre Petrona y los muchachos estaban buenos.

Yo estoy solo aquí ahora, como tuve que mandar a Mike a arrear las maderas de Guelke [2], Pío [3] y todos, como estoy tan fregado, talvez así podré comprar sal en el Cabo [4]. Bueno Abram, perdona esta corta carta, y cuando lleguen estos Sumus donde Usted, si acaso va a venir Usted con gente y carga bastante, yo creo que sería bueno que despaches a éstos para atrás ya, para llevar el pipante de Willy de Limnabun mientras uno viene llegando a la bodega. Si no viene para el 12 al 15, talvez no me halla.

Que se conserve bien, Abram, y cuidado, es mejor ser algo cobarde como yo en estos lugares. Ya estamos viejos. Affmo amigo,

Frenchie Webster

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NOTAS:
[1] Probablemente María Luisa Fuerta Rivera.
[2] Enrique (Heinrich) Gülke, un empresario alemán que tenía un gran negocio comercial en Jinotega y era exportador de grandes cantidades de madera.
[3] Probablemente Pío Castellón, un comerciante jinotegano.
[4] Cabo Gracias a Dios.

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USMC-GNN translation & commentary:

"My dear Abraham (This is in English, the rest is in Spanish):-

I received your little letter by Felipe, in which you tell me to send him in a boat on the Bodega of Culi by Nov. 10 and today Bastard and Felipe got hold of me by surprise and said they wanted to go and work some with you first and I have no big boat but am telling them that I will go get one if I can secure Willie Gordon's and send it later.

I could return from Jinotega up till Aug. 25, I was well received by friends there but did almost no work because Tilba Crivan's place was so bad. 

All your family in Jinotega were well, only the baby M. Luisa was a little sick but not seriously. I send four letters by Bastard, complied with all my errands, Rafael was then in Jinotega, big and fat.

Cayetano has gone to the interior to get his supplies, Antonio was well.

Paula, mother of the Rizos, died.

Things are always the same, the last news I had everthing was quiet in the interior only Segovia is always the same.

My child's godmother and the children were well.

I am alone here as I had to send Mike to Gulke's Lumber, Pio and all, as I am very busy, perhaps I can buy salt in the Cape.

Well, Abraham, excuse this short letter, and when the Sumus (Indians) arrive where you are, if in case you are coming with people and plenty of cargo, I think it will be well to send this back now to take Willy's boat from Limnabum, while one is arriving at Bodega.

If I do not arrive by the 12th to 18th perhaps I will not call.

Take care of yourself, Abraham, and look out, it is better to be a coward like me in these places, we are old now.

Affectionately,

Frenchie Webster

NOTE: (Typewritten and addressed ¶ to Abram Rivera, Pis Pis.)"

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A better English translation with explanatory notes:

"My dear Abraham :-

I received your little letter sent with Felipe, in which you ask me to send a boat to the storehouse at Culi by Nov. 10th. Today Bastard and Felipe surprised me and said that they want to go and work a bit with you first. So I don't have a big boat, but am telling them that I'll see if I can get Wilie Gordon's and send it later.

I could  only return from Jinotega until the 25th of August. I was well received by friends there but did almost no work because Tilba Crivan's area was in such a bad condition.

All your family in Jinotega is doing well, only the Niña [1] M. Luisa was a little sick but not seriously. With Bastard I'm sending you four letters. I accomplished all of the little orders you had given me and also gave the dress to the old man. Later, through Jesus Duarte, I found out that Rafael was already in Jinotega, big and fat.

Don Cayetano has gone to the interior to get his supplies, Don Antonio was doing fine.

Doña Paula, the mother of the Rizo's, died.

Things are always the same, the last news I had everthing was quiet in the interior. Only at Segovia things are always the same.

My child's godmother and the children were doing well. ¶ I am alone here as I had to send Mike to ride herd on the Lumber of Guelke [2], Pio [3] and all those, for I'm quite penniless and maybe so I can purchase some salt at the Cape [4].

Well, Abraham, excuse this short letter, and when these Sumus arrive where you are, if in case you are coming with people and plenty of cargo, I think it will be well to send these back right now to take Willy's boat from Limnabum, while one is arriving at the storehouse.

If you do not arrive by the 12th to 15th perhaps you will not find me.

Take care of yourself, Abraham, and look out, it is better to be a bit coward like me in these places, we are old now.

Affectionately,

Frenchie Webster"

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NOTES:

[1] Probably María Luisa Fuerta Rivera.
[2] Enrique (Heinrich) Gülke, a German entrepreneur who had a big general store in Jinotega and also exported large amounts of wood.
[3] Probably Jinotega merchant Pío Castellón
[4] Cabo Gracias a Dio