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Rome October 20th 1862

Monday Morning

Dear Nina,

It has turned so cold that I reckon you

are wishing I would send you the piece of silk to

line your cloak, so thought I am finished for time this

morning I must try to do so. I am now waiting for

my breakfast, the cook having just come out of a

spell of typhoid fever is rather slow in her motions.

Let me know whether this piece I send is enough, or how large

a piece I can put in. I have been expecting a letter

from you ever since I got home but have gotten

none. I wrote Sis an account of my journey here

and asked her to send the letter to you so I suppose you

have seen it. Ma sent me in her letter a letter from Aunt

Mary [Adin?] in which she begs we will do what we can

to get situations for I think Madge and Ellen, Mary will

teach William [Beverley's?] children. She always writes Mary

and Marg so much alike that it is hard to [?] certainly which

she means. I mentioned it to cousin Mary [Castleman?] yester

day. Mr. Atkinson wants a teacher, but he wants one for a bright

intelligent girl of 14 well advanced in english, french and mu

sic, and I doubt whether either Madge or Ellen would suit

though I reckon Mary might. Perhaps Sister could get them

the situation at Mr. [Gorby's?]. I know of no one who wants

one here. I intended writing to you on Saturday, but our con

vocation began Saturday morning and we have so far to go

that it took the whole day, we did not get home until

after sundown. We had two very good sermons from Mr.

Baird, a young minister of considerable promise, but very

handsome, and endowed with a very comfortable opin

ion of himself, and rather pedantic, if the young people

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don't spoil him he will make a good, and useful minister.

He staid all night here Wednesday night on his way to

Laurenceville where the convocation began on Thursday.

Saturday we had no minister but Mr. Baird, and I felt sorry

for Mr. Castleman, he seemed so put-out. Mr. B had to

return that evening to his own church, and poor Mr.

C was left with the prospect of being obliged to do all

the preaching himself on Sunday, but after he got al

most half through the service in the morning Mr.

Tisdale came just in time to baptize his little baby,

and to preach morning and evening. I don't like all day

preaching particularly two days. I don't know when

I was so tired, as I was last night. I have nearly finished

my third stocking, then I am going to work for the sol

diers as hard as I can, only I must knit a pair of

gloves for Cousin Dick. Give much love to Mrs. Redd, Mrs.

N, Miss Pattie, [?] and Pollie. Ask Miss Pattie please to

me know whether Mr. Scott has gone back to the

army. The dinner bell has rung, and the boy is wait

ing for my letter so I must close. Keep up your spirits

and try to keep interested in doing something for some

one, we have much still to be thankful for. The army

is said to be suffering so much. God only knows the

extent of the evil to come from which he removed

our loved ones. Write soon and often to

your loving Sister

Hattie L. Powell