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   Carysbrook July 29th 1864

My beloved Husband.  I wrote yesterday to Mr Grigsby and have just

folded and sealed the letter.  I received a few days ago a letter from

Bell Carrington, to which I have also replied.  Writing these two very

particular letters the same morning left me quite prostrated [underlined]. But I

am delighted that they are off my hands.  It seems to me that I have

never written so many letters as since I have been here, and yet I

am still in debt to many persons.  My letters to you consume a great

deal of time, and even if they never reach you, it was a comfort to

me to think, perhaps, you might get them.  I have felt perculiar

need of my dear Husband lately, and when ["and when" crossed out] I have been not

of spirits, depressed and troubled, and whenever that is the case I

long to rest my head on your faithful, loving breast, and feel

that there at last, if not secure from harm, I may be sure of

sympathy.  The [lost] of my child this season of the year always

presses upon me with peculiar force.  And then my first born

was taken home to God after having lightened my for a

                                                                Tuck sends her love.

                                                                        full shut, is it not?                                      Your devoted wife- This is a

few days, few years ago to-day.  When I look at my little boy and

feel there might have been three around me, I am sad indeed.  But

enough of this humbled theme.  Cousin R wants to know about the crops in

                                                                South Carolina

Tuesday we dined at Upper Bremo (Dr Charles [C?'s]), a place

quite famous in this part of Virginia, for wealth, beauty and elegance.

The floors were mosaic, and very slippery [underlined], and everything around

indicated comfort and luxury.  The dinner was one that might have

been served before the War.  Ice cream, cakes, fruits and flowers formed

the dessert.  Mrs Genl: Lee and her daughters were among the guests.

They have been staying there for some little time.  Mrs L- is quite

a cripple from Rheumatism, and is wheeled about in her chair,

reminding me so much of dear Mrs Sheldon, tho' while she was quite

cheerful, there was none of Mrs Sheldon's gay temper.  The young ladies

were very different.  One very quiet, and rather too reserved, the

other very lively, and affable, and pretty.  We had a pleasant day

and I was sorry when told to put on my bonnet.  When we got

home I was told by Tuck's nurse, who is a very reliable woman, that

Charley had had fever all day!  Yesterday he was shuddering more

than ordinary, and I fancy he may have another [?] in contem[?]

 

[P.1- marginalia]

entertained.  I am getting quite impatient to return home, feeling that the garden wants me, and that I have

been here long enough.  It would sicken your heart to see the miserable condition of the corn crop in this vicinity.

It is almost

a failure

and in

this county

there will

be hardly

grain

enough to

feed the

people of

the county.

Some

persons will

not make

enough

for home

consump=

tion. A

few good

rains

may

give

Cousin

R-

enough

for his own

use. With

the failure

of his crop

Which was intended to be a very large one, many more than his own family will suffer.  Tho' from far and near

depend upon him, as well as many others- He says there is nothing left for some persons but to emigrants
.  He says

[P.1- Vertically written on bottom-center of page]

Should I hear from Montague- I

will add

 

[P.2]

=plation.  Last night he had fever again, indicated

more by a heated dry skin than by his pulse, which

was very feeble ["very feeble" underlined].  I told Cousin R- about it this morning

and he replied, "yes, that is the way they die."  Very

comforting to one.  Charley seems to be getting on well

with his cough, he is very much spoilt, and I can't

cross him (tho' he is cross enough), while he is sick.  For

instance, he sucks the whole night, and you may

imagine I do not enjoy my rest a great deal.  No

doubt when he has from, and his throat is parched the

milk is comforting, and then, I think, it keeps him

from coughing.  Tuck's baby is really sick now.

Last night the paroxysms of coughing were so frequent

and prostrating, leaving her head and extremities         

cold, that Tuck called Cousin R- who pronounced

her ill ^They gave her Alum. And yet when she is not actually coughing

she is as bright as I ever saw her.  Last week Tuck

had her christened, and begged me so earnestly

to stand God Mother for her, that I consented, It

seemed proper for me to take this care upon me, for

 

[P.2- marginalia]

What is the the use of talking about money, the grain is not in the stable.  The

Government ought to make no more demands on Virginia for

she will

have

barely

enough

to feed

her own

people, &

there is an

abundant

corn crop

in the

South.

I [?]

much

anxiety

for the

coming

year for

[?],

for the

scarcity

will bring

high

prices

and

our moneies

do not increase with the demand.  If we could have foreseen this state

of affairs it would have been wiser for us to have made our home

[P. 3 marginalia]

in the South, where bread stuffs are [underlined]more abundant.  Do you know

whether Hopkins has ever gotten your Power of Attorney? I have

not heard

a word

from

him and

fear I

shan't

be able

to get

hold of

the money

after

all. I

will write

to him

again

to-day.

I hope, for

a letter

by this

mail from

Montague

telling

me I

can get home, tho' Bell and Helen both write they were glad Charley was

away, as so many little children had been ill and died.  Mrs Ben Morton

has lost her little boy.

[P.3]

my beloved Cousin's grand child.  She was all but

a Mother to me, and scarcely less than that.  A letter

from Brother E- last Saturday informed  me of

the birth of his son Beverley Tucker. So Bland

has gotten ahead of me with [than] name after all

and I give you notice now, that if God should care

bless me with another child [underlined], I shall name it after

some of my own people.  Just make up your mind

to it at once with a good grace.  Mr T- seemed

to be quite delighted with the baby, who had like all

other infants, in the eyes of its Parents, a find head.

The child has blue eyes.  I am quite disappointed

that it is not a girl, I know Bland would have

wanted to name it after Sadie.  Kind friends

were raised up for Bland in her time of need

Brother E- seems to be very happy and says he

is sure of her love, "a c[?] to the daily proofs she

gives him of her affection".  I am right sick to-day

with a miserable cold in my head, which makes me

very stupid, tho' there is company in the house to be