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                        Richmd.  22  March 1863

 

    I received your letter  my beloved

wife two or three days ago, and having

just written to Mr. Wilmer I put off  writing

to you until today.   The weather is so

miserable that no one goes out who

can avoid it & I have not been to

Church as usual, the next bets thing

that I can go, as I have no doubt  you

think, is to write to you: I also write to

dear Bob to day.   I recd.  a letter fro

him a few days ago and was quite

startled to learn that he had had an

attack of diphtheria which confined

him for some time;  I was however

greatly comforted at his reportings that

he had entirely recovered.  He was

attended by Dr. Robt. Madison, surgn.

of the Institute, who was formerly a

student of mine, & of first order: perhaps

you recollect him.   I was much grieved

at Breck's suffering, but hope the dear

little fellow is relieved at least from pain;

I very much fear that he will be always

more or less affected in hearing.   I hope

too that Lelia has recovered from her

cold, and that you & the household have

not suffered from the effects of the weather.

   It really seems ^as if the devil had been

permitted to rule the weather for 6 or 7

weeks.  Three days ago when all were

hoping that winter days were over, the

sky unexpectedly began to discharge

snow & it snowed incessantly for nearly

two days, ago, except when it hailed ; the

weather was as bad as any in the winter;

yesterday it degenerated into a misty

rain continuing this morning and causing

the walking in the half melted snow &

mud together, really worse than I have ever

seen it.   I regret it exceedingly on account

of you all, as (supposing that you have expe-

-rienced the same sort of weather with you)

it must have established a complete blockade

I have fortunately not taken cold and

am perfectly well.        I have not been

able to go about since your letter arrived

but will endeavor to find the egg plant

seed.                      I am very much gratified

at Col. Martin's promotion.  Congratulate

him upon it, as well as upon his marriage,

 on my behalf; or if he has gone, then

his kind & excellent parents with my

regards, which extend to our friends the

Gilmers &c. &c.

I have seen Mr. Semple within the last

4 or 5 days; he has entirely recovered.

       You did not say how the frock

for dear Lucy Page suited; I thought it

a very good article for the price, which

was $4 per yard; the color only I ob-

-jected to but was informed that it

would wash.         Do not hesitate my

dear wife to say when you want money, &

to ask ^offer Mr. Wilmer when you think of it

what you can share:  living must be high

however frugal may be one's mode.

            I wish I could say when I expect to

visit you, but I do not think it pru-

-dent, as I have undertaken to en-

-deavor to support you by my labor,

to leave here until I can consider

myself somewhat firmly established.

     I have seen none of our friends recently,

owing to the weather, either of this place

or elsewhere, except Mr. Custis who came

to my lodgings yesterday: all well.

   Affectionate love to dear Lelia & page

and to dear Ann & Mary.  I am glad that

the girls can go to their French school; I

have no doubt that they will do honor to

their teacher.  Tell dear Georgy & Breck

that I want to see them much & kiss my

little darling-  Kindest regards to Mr. Wilmer.

           Ever your  R.S.

          (remember me to the servants.)

Mrs. Saunders