.MTI5NA.MjIzOQ

This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Center Staff. Please also consult images of the document.

Blenheim, December 15th, 1863

Thursday Morning

Dear Nina

I received your letter last night with

one from sister and am greatly disappointed that

neither of you will be at Mrs. [Bookers?] and now don't

know what to do myself. I was very anxious to go, but

since you will neither of you be there I don't care so

much about it. You were so long letting me know

what to do that as I heard through Courtney [Cocke?]

That Sis was coming as far as Richmond with her [Xmas?]

I took it for granted she must be going to P. E. and that

you would go with her so I wrote to Horace by

yesterdays mail to meet me at the Depot the day

before Xmas. I think I shall wait to hear from

Ma again and if she objects just stay at home, if she

does not I shall go. [Ellie?] and Mrs. Hobson are go

ing to D&H's sisters in Amelia on Wednesday (23rd) and

take me with them and send me to Amelia C.H.

to take the cars at [?] on Thursday and I estimate only

be on the cars about two hours. I shall have to come

home by Powhatan Station. I have been having a right

pleasant time since I wrote to you last. [Ellie?] and

I get a long very pleasantly together, I like her very

much and [Fannie?] Harris came up last Saturday

and [stayed?] until Monday and we all three slept in

one bed. Friday evening, [Ellie?] and I went over to Mrs.

[?] Hobson's and [stayed?] all night came back Saturday

just before Fannie got here. Fannie invited

me quite [pressingly?] to come down and spend [the?]

Xmas with her, but she did not offer to send

for me and it is 14 miles so I don't know I

should get there and her sister is so low, I should

[Page 2]

not think it could be comfortable to them to have

a stranger staying with them; thought Sarah is

better just now and consumption is so uncertain.

Miss Martha [?] sent me an orange about two

days ago while I had that wretched cold and I sent

it to Sarah Harris as I heard they found it so hard

to get anything [crossed out] she could eat and she sent me on

Saturday the most beautiful bouquet of greenhouse

flowers. If you have only gotten one letter from me

since the first of November there must have been

[?] lost for I have written to you every week since

I have been in this house. In my last letter I sent

you [bands?] for two pair of [sleeves?]. I can send you

bleached cotton for your [sleeves?], I have not linen.

I got the wretched letter from [Hunter McG?] a few

days ago, but very sad. I sent him a bible by mail

he said he could not [tell?] me how much he thanks

me for it; that he did not think he should ever see

Mary again. Were you not sorry to see that

[?] Barton had lost his right leg. Mrs [?] of Rich

mond (Mary [Sharts?] mother) sent me word yesterday

that he was in Winchester and was doing well, but

I am so much afraid the yankees will carry him

off. We have all gotten pretty well here now, no

more cases of the fever and I think we are over it

though Mrs. H is not well and looks very badly, I

still feel a little uneasy about her. My cold

is almost entirely [?]. I am very busy fixing

my clothes for Xmas and making some Xmas gifts

for the children. It is prayer time and I must [?]

I will send your gloves with this. I hope you

will have a pleasant time Xmas. I shall take

a rip van winkle snooze like [Paca?] I reckon

[Paca?] write a very pleasant letter.

Your loving Sister,

H.L.P.