.MTIzMw.MjE3Ng

This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.

Rome, December 24, 1862

Dear Sister,

I have written to Nina, but since you ask

how I am I am going to write you a real ego-

tistical letter. I am not sick but I have not been

right well since I had that cold. Mrs. T[ucker] thinks I have

a bad cough, but I don't think I have more than I

have every winter, that is I cough [some?] night and morning

in damp weather, when I sit in a cold church, etc. Dr. [?] never

seemed easy about [me?] would look up when I cough in church, and [br?]

[ing?] me from the door to the carriage and ask how that [soreness?]

was, and I had better take the croton oil, but you know my cough al-

ways seemed worse than they are. The last time he asked me I told him

the [soreness?] was still there just the same, well he said I shall

have to [take?] you you must use the oil, so I told him if he would

send it to me I would by a servant who goes there from here every

night [at end?]. He did not send it for a day or two but then came

[soon?] himself and brought it and asked me about the soreness and said

if I was Mrs. [J?] he would tell me I must; as I was Miss H would tell me he

thought I had better, it would not hurt me much (but I tell

you, he was mistaken in that) and I would find much advantage

from it, he thought if I would use it all this winter I might get

rid of it entirely, so I have rubbed it three times. The rest I think is

only Maria worrying, but I don't think I ought to mind it so

much or would if I were strong, she has a way when she gets out

of doing every little thing which she thinks will give trouble

such as holding her book so I can't see, and a thousand little things which

are too much and too numerous to mention, and I get into such a state

that the very taking her book into my hands makes me tremble

from head to foot and my voice shakes so that I can scarcely

hear her, then she will say, oh yes somebody beside me can get

mad, Miss Hattie is so mad she can hardly speak, but it is

[Page 2]

not so I don't feel angry in the heart it is only the dread of

a contact. I can make her, but it is a constant make. I think

Uncle Fred would know how I feel for I have seen him in

just such a state. Lately too Willie has got to imitating her, I

have given him two whippings for it, and I think I can whip

it out of him. As to changing my place, I would dislike of all

things to do it. It would mortify and distress Mrs. T[ucker] above all

things, she is really very fond of me and just as kind as it is

possible to be. And for all M[aria] does so she is very fond of me too, but she

is as jealous of me as possible, thinks her Mother loves me better than

her, even counts how many apples Cousin Dick brings me to see if

he brings her the same, which I have given him private in-

structions always to do. Mrs T[ucker] can't manage her as well as I can.