.MTIzNA.MjE3Nw
January, 1863 [?]
Powell Papers – 65 P875, Box III, Folder 4
- - - - -
Hickory Hill Jan ____
Your sweet letter, dear Hattie
& this cap were sent to me from
Richmond, so there was some
delay in my getting them &
just as I was going to acknow
ledge its receipt the owner of
the cap made his appearance
in an ambulance to take
Charlotte to spend a short time
near Fitzhugh who is somewhere
in Essex. Bob was charmed
with the cap, immediately put
it on & we found it very ____
& becoming. He begs I will exp-
ress his thanks in the most
grateful manner for your kind
thoughtfulness of him, & had
some thoughts of writing them
[2]
himself, but boy like didn’t
know what to say! He is sweeter
than ever, I think, & it was very
hard to say goodbye to him
once more.
This was indeed a very different
Christmas to us all; we spent
it here with Mr Wickham & Cousin
Anne. Every one is kind
as possible. It is very sad to
look back & think of all the
light happy Christmas’ we
have passed in our childhood
& to know that never again in
our lives can those feelings
come again. But I trust it
will teach me to give all my
thoughts to the holy ____ __
& can always keep it.
[3]
I know dear Hattie how sad it must]
have been to you. But I feel sure
that God who saw it was good
to give you such severe trials gave you
His grace to make you feel they
were not greater than you could bear.
It surprises me to hear some persons
say, that friends that have left us
are finally forgotten – cease to be
missed. With you I feel years only
make you know your loss.
It is almost a comfort to me to
think that I never can forget Annie,
that her memory is always there
hidden now away in my heart.
feeling that no love, no friendship
[4]
ever has or can fill the same place
she occupied in my life. I know
it is the same with you. We hear
frequently from Mildred. And a gen-
tleman brought one yesterday a letter
from Mary, whose communications
are very rare as she is still in the
Yankee lines in King George –
but very well & but little disturbed
I expect to return to Mr. Alram Warwicks [?]
in Richmond next week. Mama
is already in R. What do you all
do with yourselves? I must say good
night. Excuse this scratch, I have no
paper with me except this.
Love to your Mamma & Rebecca
Yours
Agnes
Sincerely
hope that
this new
Year will
bring peace
& happiness
to you all.