Mt.Elgin,
March 18, 1861
My Dear Sister,

I received your kind letter this day week the eleventh- dated October 15th-five months all but four days coming.I was thinking about writing again when I got it.
We are all happy to hear you are all in good health as this leaves us all. Thank to God for his mercies to us all.
When I wrote you before, my son James was exploring for a new station. He saw plenty of new country but did not like it. When he came home his father bought this run and sheep and station. 92383 acres-ninety two thousand three hundred and eighty acres. Eighteen thousand sheep, six bullocks and dray. House, kitchen, stables and store, six shepherds huts. A spring at the home station, two draw wells to water the sheep and cattle in summer. This named Mt.Elgin.

My old man and myself went to it and gave Yanneck a Yanneck to James. He lives north, David south of us. James sixteen miles and David five. It all belongs to ourselves five miles beyond David to five miles beyond James-no one between us, only shepherd huts.

Elizabeth she lives seven miles west. She has nine children, one six weeks old, born 4th February. Hannah had a son born Christmas day. It lived only two or three days. Sarah has seven sons, one daughter, the daughter six months old. Jane has a son since I wrote. Mary Sophia one daughter and her son died that time you mentioned when so many was bad. It had dysentery, that sickness kept about the diggings.

The price of the place and what was on it was £25,000. Got possession February 2nd 1860. On delivery, £5,000. Since £13,000 four years to pay. James pays £10,000 for Yanneck a Yanneck and that goes to help pay Mt.Elgin.

Our wool brought £7,000 this year, and we sold 6,000 fat wethers.

William and family is well. He has three children and will have another perhaps by this. James has 2, one later. Yanneck a Yanneck is not the name of a town, it is a blacks name for the place. We put up the house, it was applied to the Government by that name. The nearest town is Horsham, fifty miles or better. Neither school nor church nearer. A clergyman come sup every now and then- this is the centre.

My dear sister, you said I might see your son William. Would to God I see him and you all. If I see him I shall give him twenty kisses for your sake. He shall live as we live and we shall give him wages from the time he comes on station.

You will be wondering what I am like, I am a big old woman, my hair pretty grey,14 stone, sixty years of age. I can walk faster and suppler than ever a daughter I have and James can walk and work quicker than his sons.

I do not know what cattle and horses we have. About 300 head cattle, 200 hundred horses or there about. Last May we had a good lambing. Had between eight and nine thousand lambs. This year they begin the first May to lamb.

William lives at Kyneton, Green Hill, Port Phillip, Victoria. If you write, that is his directions. Hannah, Sarah,Jane and Mary Sophia at Kyneton all live within three miles of the others, fifty miles from Melbourne. There is the direction to write or come as the mail train goes by Bob Harpers garden- that is Sarah my daughter's.
Ours Mount Elgin, Horsham, Wimmera, Victoria. If it is Yanneck a Yanneck it will come as well.

My dear sister James mistakes very much again. At August I am 20 years left home and I sent in that time about a dozen letters and have received five or more from them. I received one about five weeks since from Sarah Jane. They was all well but was in great trouble about Mary Haslips child. I sent a letter to Isaac the same post I sent yours and received no answer yet- nor from John.
If any come out, come by Kyneton they can stop there until James gets word and sends for them the two hundred miles. I have not been down there since I wrote to you. James says we will go down after shearing at Christmas.
My son and daughter are home from school. They are fret for any company for education. Agnes very much wishes her little cousin Amelin was here. When she came home from school her father gave her a horse and side saddle and if Amelin comes over he will give her the same. But how am I to see my dear niece. We'd like to bring her over.
My son John would like John to be here. He says this warm country might restore his health. Your two married daughters should come out to begin the world. I was forty one when I came out I may say begin the world. We had to make friends by our conduct but they have friends before them in their uncles and cousins.
I am sorry about my brother John. I have been wondering often how his sight stood. I would like to see him and Betty and the little ones, I suppose this is vain. I wonder if we will meet where time will be of no more, my dear sister.
I cannot hear one word of brother William since long before I came to this country. Send one when you write. Tell John to write wether he gets my letter or not. My dear sister I beg you to write and tell your children to write. Do not take 2 months again, I was all that time and more in suspense.
Give our kind love to Robert and the little ones, John and Agnes will soon write. James and them joins with me in sending our kind love to you my dear sister, brother Robert and the family and believe me your affectionate sister to death.

Jane Little.

This will be there in five months then write immediately, write soon, write soon and that will be a boon.
We are far from a post town-60 miles or thereabouts.
Easter Monday April 1st, this letter will go to Horsham Post Office. To Robert Haslip and Betty Ann, my Dear Brother and Sister.