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            Clarksville Nov. 17th 1864-
                Thursday morning-
    Why is it, my beloved husband, that you do not write?
Mama suggests that havign the security of Mrs Thompson you do not so
much feel the need of home communication.  I flatter myself that no
company however charming can atone for the lack of intercourse with these
you love best.  We've all other attractions to fail in your home, there is one
lovely little fellow and [?] prattles who would bind you to it
with stronger than adamantine chains.  Daily Helen and myself
grieve that you should not see him in all his infa[?] charms.  He
is the [?] fellow to pick up new words you ever saw, perhaps, one
day he may be a distinguished linguist.  He surprises us sometimes by
the scraps of nursery rhyme he has at his command. "Charley was a
Welshman" - "Brambury Crop etc." His tricks are too numerous [?]
record and lose half their pint in the telling.  Two nights ago he was
quite sick an attack of Cholera [?] brought on by somethng he had
eaten, Buts perhaps, for which he has concieved quite a pastime.
He has also just gotten out an eye tooth, and other teeth are in
embryo.  They do not seem to make him sick, nevertheless, I would
be my glad if you would send me some medecines weighed
out and fixed, in case, he should need them.  It is very unpleasant
to send for Dr Camm every time a trifling rememdy is needed, when
I myself could administer it if I only knew the proper proportions.
It seems to me you ought to be glad to do so trifling a thing for your
boy and yet long ago I made a similar requiest production
of no results.  Dr Camm is marked in his attentions when any of
us need his care, byt I do not like to call on him for every "finger
ache".
I have still no news from home.  How Mother is getting along with
her house "sift and [?]" I am not a [?] to tell.  How did
Montagu bear the bad news?  He loves Williamsburg almost
as much as I do.  If you please throw some light on his employment
What is he, and what does he do?  It took a trip to Richmond

[P. 2]
to inform me before.
dI have been stopped in the midst of my write writing to see a Carpenter, and
try to make some arrangement about the removal of the house in the yard
to the "Great house".  I am so anxious to get this acoomplished both on
my own account and on Mother's, for which she is not here I can have a
comfortable chamber.  I confess that I sometimes have very [?]
feeling on this head.  I have gotten myself excited new, and don't know
what I am writing about.  Last saturday Bishop Johns reached here.  He
stayed at Mrs Harris' Helena nd myself wne tout to see Mrs Johns
and himself, and spent the evening very pleasantly.  The next day
the Bishop preached the first sermon I ever heard from him,. and one
that I trust, may make lasting impression on me.  "I have, to
[outer?] in at the straight gate."  Nannie Wood, Tilla Buswill, Nannie
Williams, and two gentlemen from "the Shop" were Confirmed, Mrs
Skipwith was to have been arming the number thus taking a stance
on the Lord's side.  But the day was [?] and cold, and having
recently [?] of her Confinement, I expect she was afraid to
[?].  Now for business.  The blacksmith who worked here have last
year lost his Master and has been sold.  No blacksmith is here and
Mama thinks of bringing Alex here.  a man of his trade is much
needed and I am told Mama would realize a handsome sum
by this arrangement.  What do you think of it?  Hasten to reply
to this point.
Fearing my letter may be too late for the mail I cannot write
a longer letter.
    Hoping soon to hear from you I am as ever
your devoted wife

Love to Montague
Tell him that I [?] [?] to
be sent at once to the Cadet Camp
It takes so long for a letter to come.