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[Envelope]
Belongs with letter
"Prestwould May 26 [1864]"
See last page of second letter.


[Page 1]

Prestwould May 26
    [1864]

Dear Mrs. Coleman,
    I send you a
quarter of lamb, and a string of
fresh fish. I am sorry not to be
able to send you a more choice piece
of meat but the cook made a
mistake in the piece I wished
reserved for you, and has carved
this piece into two preparotry to
use as a Cottelette's. I hope however
you will find it very tender and nice.
Say to Miss Coleman I think my
roses promise to thrive very well.
I have still the glass frame over
them, but do not know whether it is
judicious to keep them so covered, please
ask Miss Coleman how she manages
hers. I hope your Mother is quite well-
Yours truly
Anne Skipwith

[Page 2]

    Clarksville May 28 1864
    Saturday morning
This week has been rich in letters from you, my
beloved husband, on two consecutive days I got a letter, and this
morning while yet in bed another was handed me. I need not tell
you it is a great heat to hear this frequently from my darling com
=panion, nor how [?] for your [sanity]. I am so lonely here, without
one human being on whom to repose, even my little innocent
Baby and he don't know much about sympathy, tho' he has
a loving, tender heart, and is the most sensitive creature I
ever saw. A harsh word, an expression of pain from
those he loves causes his little lip to be put up, and tears to fill
his beautiful eyes. I do wish you could see him in all his
lordship, and hear his sweet childish prattle, which nobody
understands except, perhaps, Sally. There are, however many
words he has master in meaning as well as pronunciation.
When the candle was put out last night, he was awake, and
said "dark". Oh! me he is so sweet and lovely. I think
you would certainly eat him up could you see him as
I do, at all hours of day and night.
I write on this sheet of paper for two reasons, first because
paper is scarce and high, secondly, because I want you
to see how kind Mrs. Skipwith is to me, and to us all.

[P.2]
I have a sort of idea that she may be our to see us
to-day. It has rained almost every day this week, and it
has been a splendid growing season alike for plants and weeds.
The ground is still too wet for working, and I am availing myself
of the opportunity to get the walks cleaned out, which sadly
need some attention. I feel very weary to-day and hardly
equal to superintending my affairs as I ought to do. I have
not felt quite well for several days and am really worthless
to-day. I must tell you of the piece of Andrew's [auscality].
Mrs. Haskings sent me a message, offering us Buttermilk
every day, if we would only send for it. I wrote her a
note replying that we owed her many thanks, and while I could
not think of imposing on her kindship by sending every day I
would still do so sometimes. Master Andrew heard of it in
some way, and off her marched coming before last and got
the milk for himself [underlined] in my name. I heard of it accidentally
and went up to see Mrs. H- about it, and found it to be
a fact. When I charged him with it ["with it" underlined] last evening he
denied it in truth, but almost twisted himself out of his jacket.
Gerogie and Cousin Sally have just come in with a
message from Mr W [underlined] Tucker Canington to me, offering his
Carriage to take me to Wolf Trap on next Wednesday. The
carrage is^ to go to meet a friend, and hearing of my

[P.2- Written vertically in Left Margin]
Helen told Charley to say ain't it beautiful [underlined] and he said ain't it
pretty [underlined].
Another
price
of clean
=up.

[P.3]
Be sure to [?] the ladies, What is the name of the old lady?

desire to get to Richmond, he was kind enough to
offer it to me, for which I felt duly grateful. I had abandon
=ed all thought of my trip, because some of Helen's children
had the whooping cough, and tho' their Parents took them
from school so soon as it was ascertained that they had
that disease, still I thought that, perhaps [underlined], Charley might
have been exposed to the disease and I ought not to
take him where he might give it to other children. But
the girls have set in Council and decided that there can
be no objection to my going so please sir direct your
first letter.
after this to Mr Bryans care - Dixie P. Co.
Fluvanna
I hope I am not doing wrong in going - Cousin Sally has
just cut CHarley hair close [underlined], & he looks splendid, and
like a boy - I send you a lock of his hair.
I have just heard from Howard that Sainty Jones
was maried last Saturday to Mary [?]. Helen
is on the house top, tho' I think M. D. as good as
[?]. Martin came night before last. His va
=cation has begun of course he will go down to
Richmond with me.
Your devoted
Wife
Mama has gone
out to Sunnyside
with the girls.

[P.3- Written across the letter]
Mrs. Coleman
Clarksville, Va