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Blenheim February 7th
Sunday night
My darling Nina,
I am by no means sure
that I ought not to be in bed instead
of sitting up here writing to you, but I am
afraid if I don't begin tonight I shall
not have my letter ready for the mail
tomorrow. I received your two welcome
letters and also the book for all of which
many thanks. There are a good many
books here and I could borrow plenty, but
I have scarcely read a book since I have
been here. I have been so busy with my
gloves (of which I have knit 10 pair) my
chemises, school, writing, and being sick my-
self, but I shall be glad to get something
to read now. I have gotten almost as well and
fat as usual. I came up from Mr. Har-
ris's on Sunday last and since that time
this is the 12th letter I have written, so you
will have to make many excuses for it.
My hair has not yet shown any signs
of coming out & Dr. Hobson does not
think it will, says it was not [real?] ty-
phoid fever I had but catarrhal
with strong typhoid symptoms, but if
it should show any signs of doing so
[Page 2]
I shall certainly have it shaved imme-
diately, and tell Lizzie when I do try
the experiment I shall certainly try
it well, have it shaved three times back-
wards and will let her know whether
I succeed in getting curls. You and
Lizzie must have a pleasant time to-
gether reading and talking, but you
have never told me who Lizzie is &
how old is she. I thought up to this
time she was the little child you
were teaching. You ask me who I liked
best of all the people I saw at Mr. Harris's
well I certainly liked Fannie the best.
She is as [sweet?] and lovely a girl as I have ever
met with and I love her dearly. She is com-
ing up soon to stay some with me. Of the
gentlemen I liked Willie Blackford de-
cidedly the best, though I liked Capt Har-
ris very much too, he is considered by all
his relations as the sweetest fellow in the
world but somehow he & I did not get along.
I found him very hard to talk to. The eldest
brother Nelson is too conceited & egotistical
to be very agreeable, but the third brother
Adam who came just before I left & who
is just 21 is the handsomest smartest fellow
you ever did see. Then there was Mr [Finney?]
who was very amusing, Mr. Harrison who
[Page 3]
was very odd & Mr. Kennon (Lord Nor-
wood) who is immensley wealthy; Fannie
writes me that the last mentioned in-
dividual had been over since I left
and had had the audacity to tell her that
he had fallen in love with me, but I have
never seen any evidence of it, he must have
been romancing like some of our other
friends do. Tell Lettie with my love she need
not inquire what talking of going to Pow-
hatan means. Wait until [he?] goes, tis my
opinion Powhatan will never [use?] him. He
never talks of what he really means to do.
I am so glad you have a balmoral** it
was indeed kind in Mrs. Booker to send
it to you, but how did she get it to you. I
have not heard from any of them since
soon after Xmas, but wrote to Horace
last week. All the Powhatan troop are
at home too, but have the itch most
dreadfully. I am so glad the P.E. boys are
at home, I did not see any of them as
they passed. How is your cold, I felt anxious
about it. Do Nina take care of yourself don't
let these coughs get such a hold on you as
they have on me, it only needs care, and you
will wish you had if you don't. Not that I
have any now. As to [?] I am much
obliged to you for your offer, I don't believe
[Page 4]
I have any, but I have never worn a white
collar since Brother died & at any rate I
could not undertake to wear them here in the
country where I see so few people. I should
be very badly off for collars but that [Norvell?]
gave me a beautiful crape one for a Xmas
gift. I wrote to [Rouss?] and cousin E last week about
the cotton & hope to hear from them soon, I
told Rouss to put the cotton up if he had it
and send it to "Jeter & Harris" commission
merchants there, & they would send it to me by
wagon & I asked Cousin E to call and pay him
for it, & spend the rest of the 20 dol in paper &
send it with the cotton. I also wrote to Mother
and asked her to get me the [worth of the money?]
Frank had of [?] in {?]. I am obliged to
have some handkerchiefs, & send it in the same
bundle. Just please tell me again who
Johns Janney is engaged to, I could
not make the name out. I must
close now with much love to Lizzie.
I enclose you some letters, send [?]
to Sister & Aunt [?] to Ma. Write
soon to your loving sister
HLP
- a balmoral was a petticoat