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{Note to Swem - these two pages don't appear to be from the same letter - given the folding. Also, I don't think these are the complete letters]

Rome, June 26th, Thursday morn

Dearest Mother,

I owe Nina a letter a [mails?] longer

standing than yours, but it seems so long since I have

written to you that I must have a little chat with

you first. I was so glad to get your letter, but I am so

comfortable myself that I can't bear to think of you

not having your [tea?]. If you don't have it when you

get to Mr. [Red's?] could you not get some and keep it for

your own use. I am so sorry to hear you are not well, you

must not get down. I was in hopes you were getting

up. Nina wrote me you weighed 108, and that beats

me, 95 was all I could boast of a month ago. I am going

to the mill again Saturday to see if I have fattened. Last

week I thought I was going to have chills, I felt so badly but

I got some thoroughwort - and took and now I feel quite

well again. I did not know until I got your letter that

the 2 Fitzhugh Lees were in Stuart's brilliant exploit, I am

very glad of it. How is it that you all hear so much more

than I do. But did you hear that red-headed Mary [Magill?]

had married a yankee officer, so Pa writes me, I can't believe

it. Are you not glad the [Brudins?] are are occupying our house

so I suppose there is something left to take care of. I sup

pose from Pa's letter received yesterday that they may be

fighting in Richmond today. I was so astonished to hear

Jackson was at Hanover Junction, I thought him still

in the valley. Father seems to be very confident of victory

and to think it will so far relieve us as that he talks of spend

ing [peach?] [season?] with us all in the country. I don't think

[Page 2]

for you to Blacks & Whites, [Wilsons?] or [Parratts?] Depot at

any time. They are just as kind to me as possible. Willie

says every now and then "Ma you right to send for Miss

Hattie's Ma, cause I know she wants to see her." The children

are very fond of me and I tell you that one task did Maria a

vast amount of good. I have had no trouble with her since

and she always gets out at 12th. I began the marking yesterday.

She is very generous and never tries in the least to throw blame

off herself on to anyone else. I am very fond of her and she [?]

she likes nothing so well as to get me to walk with her. Father

said that Mr. Martin had written to Charley that he was ready

to send him $300 of his money and he had written to him not to

join his company until he got it as [?] [Ben?] Tucker

said he could not be drafted. I have not written to him

since I got your letter because until yesterday I had not

a stamp. I was so grieved to hear of [Powell?] [Courads?] and C [Bartons?] deaths

what an affliction to both families. Mrs Logan was much bolder

than I ever expected her to be. I thought her a timid woman. Oh!

I do wonder how the poor people are getting on now. It was

very strange Mrs [McGuire?] came out, have you heard any

thing more from her. I am afraid Mrs T is sick. I have

written to [Gettie?] several times but have received no an

swer. Just think of cousin Ann's [serious?] conduct was it [not?]

outrageous, but poor things what falsehoods the [wretches?] must

have told them. I think I would be very unwise to give up

my situation here, though I should like very much to be

nearer you all. I think of you all spending your Saturdays

together sometimes, and I way off down here, and I almost take a

cry, but I am never lonesome. I have never paid but one vis

it since I have been here but only [?]. I don't want to, Mrs. T

tells me I can have the carriage whenever I want it. I believe

I will have to go to Col Edmunds to spend the day on Saturday

but I hate it mightily. I have not made any collars. I finished

my thin dress but it

[Note to Swem - the letter is cut off at this point]

[Page 1 - writing at top]

of this letter, I have

caught six fleas

since I have been

writing it. Good bye

dear Mother, write

to me often and keep

up your spirits.

Give much love to

Sister and Nina.

Ever your loving

daughter,

Hattie