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Charlotte C.H. Virginia, March 29, 1864
My dear Mrs. Coleman,
Your kind letter of the 23rd instant
reached me a day or two ago; and altho it had been long since I had
seen any fresh writing of yours, I recognized it at once and, I need not
say, read it with deep interest. It had been received while I was
draping, and my wife, who reads all my letters, had read it before I came
down, and her first words to me were: "a sweet letter from Mrs. Coleman."
And indeed it was refreshing to me. I had almost thought that you had
forgotten me; but I knew upon reflection that, as I would not forgoet you,
you could not wholly forget our past [intercourse], and the cordial
feelings of friendship which matched it; and I well knew that trouble
had entered your dwelling, and, above all, your heart; and that in the [madre]
of suffering even the tongue, much more the pen, refuses its accustomed
office.
I thank you for the account of the last days of sweet little Sarah A[?],
whose image is now before me. She was a beautiful flower, and she has
part away with the flowers, but she had left a memory behind her
which we will not "willingly let die." I too mourned her, not only on many
other grounds, but as the hope of an honored line. But our sorrow is
hushed when we reflect how many hours are made desolate, how
many honorable names have been extinguished, [?] that comfort
which has overshadowed us for three years past, and how many
more are destined to a similar fate. Such troubles have been shared
by those who have gone before us. Your grandmother with an infant
in her arms was a refugee from the myrmides of Taileton in a coming
adjoining the one in which preside, and saw a d[?] [?] alone here
[P.2]
at least to ordinary mission, than that which darkens us; yet what
a glorious [?] our seasons for her! Had she given up to [?],
how much [?] our Common Virginia, could have love in her death!
Yet her descendant, once that dark home, live, if not in New
own persons, in the persons of their children and grandchildren. To that
it will be with us, and that we will meet again in peace and joy
in your old delightful home.
How dear to me at this moment are my recollections of Williamsburg,
of the old and the new College, of the domestic hearths where a
"lettered [?]" reigned, and of those precious friends who made
every thing so [?] to me! I shall see them all again, I feel confident;
or if I do not, others will, and reap the same [?] of delight which
it was my privilege to gather.
My wife and myself are both pleased to read the kind words
in which you wrote of W. C[?] and his [?] family. They
are indeed very near relations of my wife's; as W. C. is her first cousin
on the father's side, and Mrs. C. her first cousin on the mother's. It has
always ^been a subject of regret to both ^of us that they have been so far separated
from us that of late years we have not seen them when they and
we were abroad. The young ladies I occasionally see at Cahl. [?]
their grandfather, and see enough to make us regret that we cannot
see more. But I shall love them ever the more from the way in
which you speak of them.
[?] family [?] was very interesting to me, and you must let me
know more of your personal adventures hereafter. I do wish more
earnestly that fortune had cast you in our region, though on general
grounds I think you are quite as well off where you are as you could
be here; for great [?] [?] new, [?] as almost amounts to
a famine; as provisions can hardly be bought at any price. But
I certainly would have [?] all my efforts to [?] for you
[P.3]
and make you as comfortable as the times will allow. I think I wrote to you
that Mrs. Bradford, [?] [?] that was, how a little hometown some
three or four miles off. She has had some sickness in her family, her
has not thus far suffered from the can't of the [?] of life. Mr Curtis
has also purchased a small homestead some twelve miles distance from
me, and from his grand management is doing very well I believe. I think
I also told you that John Seldon of [?] is living in a small
farm adjoining Charlotte C. H., which he has purchased; and his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. John Seldon jun., [Miss Benbury of N. G.]
lives on a farm of her own alone three miles from us. She is
a very ind[?] and intimate lady.
Poor Mr. Morrison! called away so suddenly from his young wife and
children! Do you remember how much he admired and loved you!
He knew my feelings towards you; as I knew his; and the very knowledge
of a common regard united us more clearly than ever. Do you remember
the day he and I, and Professor Taliaferro, dined with you. [?] Professor
[?] forward to the happy home which would make your sister Bland
his bride? And all went merry as a marriage bell. And that bell
shall ring again; and Lillian and Mary shall rise again; and your
mother's house shall again be that foundation of joy to all
who enter its doors!
But while I leave others to follow the course which they may deem
[?], I do not think that this is a time to move in favor of Lillian
and Mary. What money may be obtained, must be very con[?] in the
score of ultimate availability, and if any donation is made now, and
rendered [?] [?] [?] [?] a [?]. No few
who alone must be [?] to ^to reb[?] the College may please their
[?] laboring as a [?] to [?] at a time when there s[?]
-receptions may be made available The un[?] of any [?] [?]
[?] presence is very great, and I prefer to wait a time when we can proceed
to build all at once our old house, and refit it anew in all things.
[p. 4]
I wish I could say that Canington was a "splendid fellow," had in [?] he
is neither more advanced nor better looking than any of his contempo-
raries. He is of a small stature, his features are poor, and [?] his mouth, his
general temperment and personal resemblances are there of his mother,
exactly his moth, what has an [?] that is [?] with him. he is an
[retire], under a [?] pretty well, and does not love his boot, but, as he has
never had any other table, than his mother, perhaps the feeling of emulation
may pet be roused. May Blair is a stout buxom lass, with regular features,
blue eyes, a fair skin, a fine complexion, and is of a more pleasant temper than
her mother. The Wells [?] has just been [?] the latter in which I am
rectory, and [?] been [?] off, her taken to my couch and is now fast
[?]. her mother had sent her out to my library, as this is a rainy day,
to get [?] of her. My wife's health, which had been delicate, and which, indeed,
gave me three months ago, real concern, has been mild latter for the last
month or two, [?] [?] all limes she requires upon and freedom from
[?]. She [?] p?] under any they of the [?]. I do several
[?]you have [?], and that she knew you. My own health at present is
pretty fair this winter, however, has been [?] when my lungs, which have
been delicate since my [?] year, and what were severely injured
by the dreadful accident I met with in Richmond in 1858. but I am careful,
and I indulge the hope that I kind Providence may protect my days well
I can ponder for and should my [?]. In this, however, as in all p?[ things,
I have completely to the deceased which I cannot p?[ and [?] not,
[replying], my dear Mrs. Coleman, that we are but "sojourners here as our fathers
were," and that, in a few short years at fatherhood, [?], and those we care,
will have hoped away.
[?] me [?] cordially to D. Coleman, whom I hope you will see ere long.
My wife unites with me in all kind exchanges of love and sympathy with
you in your afflictions, and in thou [?] [?], which continues
a new [?] in our region at this time. Canington still remembers Sarah
A[?], and listens attentively to all we say about her and you. And now,
my dear madam, I have certain n[?] on the receipt of your letter to let you
see how welcome it is, and how welcome any they from you [?] [?]
ought be to be, and without [?] an answer till some time be part.
You can at all events write to me quarterly [underlined] that I may ^know your direction, and
how all your friends are. When you write, or when you see your mother, remember
me kindly to her, and [?] with sincere affection I am [?] [?]
Mrs G. B. T. Coleman [?] B. Grigsby
Clarksville
