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Charles L Powell Powhatan County Virginia to daughter either Hattie Rebecca or Nina Powell np 26 April 1863

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Powhatan Co

Apl 26/63

Darling daughter

My present house is a very plea

sant & desirable one, in all the comforts

which easy circumstances, & good hu-

moured hospitality can supply. I would

however willingly exchange it for a much humb

ler one which would give me the society of

wife & daughter. The thing which most interferes

with m comfort is what you would not com

plain of - the crowd of young people attracted

here by the generous hospitality of the [?] &

the society of a son & daughter just turned out.

Miss [Ginnie?] is quite [?] to be a [belle?] with her [?], kind, good humored, with a merry laugh, dimples, fresh complexion, & bright black eyes, good sense & considerable humor. She has not much taste or [...............?..............] [?] but sings & plays very well. I heard her say to one of her beaux, she did not know what was best to drive away [horseflies?], she never had had any. Bernard has spirits less elastic but [...................................?......................................................] [...................................?...........................................]. No doubt there is a spectacle here as in every household [?] not yet [?] [?]. Bernard (the son is abt 20.) Kind considerate & amiable, practices no excess, except perhaps in the use of tobacco, of good practical sense, has no taste for reading, & is very fond of music. He is good looking enough, is like his sister not quite as eager in pursuit of pleasures. In his countenance & complexion there are [?] of greater delicacy of [?]. He was one of the earliest volunteers when the war broke out. Was taken with the measles, which fell upon his beings & has had repeated & severe hemorrhages [?] [?]. He is discharged from the army & is engaged in farming. When I came from school on Monday, the

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presence of sabers & holsters in the [?] indica ted an arrival of a squad of soldiers because [?] there were in the pasture these young lads, & three young gentlemen who had been spending the day they all staid all night. The next day on my return the 3 [?] had left. The gentlemen all stayed through the succeeding night until the afternoon of the next day. I found the coast clear Wednesday night. On Thursday there came another beau said to be a lover. STaid util next day, when he was succeeded by four others one of them a [?] man who left this morning for the army. Three are here [?] [?] [?] [?] the last a merry little fellow said to be very much in love with the Miss [G?]. I don't know whether he has ever told his love. Certainly he is not pining away with a melancholy shady green & yellow** or of any other color. He is very [?] & has a great deal of [?]. Certain ly I should not grudge the poor young fellow, [?] [?] [?] - how do I. They are very polite to me & although as I occupy a bed in the boys spare room my privacy is somewhat invaded by having those three [?] with myself, but [?] [?] & poor fellows their four nights are justified and on Monday they are [?] going off. We had another to join the happy [?] [?] [?] I am afraid there is no chance the little girl is fixed in a school under charge of a young lady from Richmond who boards at [?] Michaux but alas a school of 11 puples in the woods half way between my school house [?] [?]. Have you heard that Frank Lloyd [?] on a visit to their mothers in [?] were taken prisoner & came to Washington. In a letter from Mrs. A. H. [Powell?] she says [Millroy?] is treating the people of Winchester more [horribly?]. He had [?] Mrs [Logan’s?] family out of time taking possession of the house & every thing in it allowing Mrs. L to take nothing but a few clothes which he had put into her trunk. This was done on compliant of a negro [?] whom one of her sons had [?] on this [?]. That it was supposed several other families would be sent off. Your cousin [?] was in Richmond a few days ago. She thinks Mobile can be as well defended as Charleston. I trust Mr. Walkers grandson will be preserved to her. Your devoted father Charles Powell

• • This appears to be a reference to Shakespeare's a Twelfth Night where Viola says, "And with a green and yellow melancholy. She sat like patience on a monument, Smiling at grief."