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Blenheim October 13th [1864]
Thursday
Dear Nina,
Your most welcome letter
was received a few days ago and I
am delighted to hear you are so well
and getting along so well, do not be
discouraged if you have a little trouble
with [Bab?]. Girls of her age dislike to
[?] with and [?] to
study which they are not so inclin-
ed to but she can't help loving you
after a while and will thank you
the more for it, but I would not
trouble myself too much with it.
I think that is a fault in us
all, we try to do too much and so
wear ourselves out. As to sitting
down stairs, if the family sit in the
dining room after [?] or when
ever they sit there, I would stay
without waiting to be asked, for
a dining room or parlor, or indeed
any common sitting room is [?]
[Page 2]
pond to be free and not to require
an invitation to be entered. I would
if I could sit with the family some
and try to make myself agreeable, they
will love you sooner and make your
home more comfortable. And then
it will be more pleasant for you
when the boys come home (and Mrs.
T says they are as fine boys as ever
were) and when there is company
in the house L was really worried
that Bill Stewart should have given
you [their?] shoes to exchange because
it was her own offer to do it, and she
said there was a store there where
Mary has sometimes exchanged shoes
sent them from England which did not
fit, and they would do it from there
and I expressly told her that I was not in
a hurry for them, any time thru [?]
[?] would do, but it is just like them
they make great fuss and professions but
if it is any trouble they don't stand up
to them, tho you might try sometime.
when you are shopping and if you can
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exchange them or if you can't perhaps
you could put them in some store and
get them sold. I am so glad to hear
John Dupuy has been confirmed, our
church would suit all those Dupuy
better than the [?] [?]. It would
be very pleasant for you to spend the
Xmas with Lettie, but I would not
commit myself to it, because I think
it would be more pleasant if you
have an invitation to spend it in
Richmond. I would go to see Mildred
the first time I went into the city, she
and cousin Mary too will be glad to see you
Ia m sure, and you may meet Custis
and make acquaintances among
the gentlemen, remember we sent you
there that you might see as much
company as possible and you are not to
stick yourself in a corner. I am so
disappointed you did not see Willie,
he intended going to see you I am sure
for he told me he certainly would and
took down your name, Dr. P's and the
brook-turnpike, but there was such a com-
mmotion in town, I reckon they either
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put him in the trenches or ordered
him on duty immediately. Before
he left here he heard that Gen Gar-
diner (who commanded at Port
Hudson when it made such a gallant
defense, and now commands at Mobile)
had telegraphed to the War Department
to know where Lieut Starke was and
to request that he might be sent out
to him immediately. Ah! aint I proud
of my Willie, bless him, but he did
not want to go and requested to be sent
to the Va army, but did not know
what the result would be. I have not
heard a word from him yet, the only
reason I had for thinking he intended
writing to me was that I was knitting
him a pair of gloves which I did not get
done and I asked him how I should di-
rect them when done, he said I
don't know my direction now, but
let me send it to you, won't ? Yes.
And so it passed, but I have not heard
from him yet. Ah! Will these faithless
win, there is no trust to be put in [?]
You know what Cousin David asked
me, well I have not heard a word
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from him since he left [?] had a letter from
same by the last mail, all [were well?] he said
they had just heard from the boys after the
Waynesboro fight all were safe. Have you begun your
dress yet, I have just finished my night-gowns
I sent Willie Bookers gloves to him the other day and
a pair to Col Pickens, also have my Willie's done and
have yarn enough for two pair more, who would
you suggest my sending them to, I thought of
sending our pairs to [?] her and I used to be very
good friends. Since Willie left, I don't have any
body to come to see me now so I have no news to
tell, so must say good bye. Write soon to your own
fondly loving sister
Hattie L. Powell