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Henry Nov 16 / 60

My dear Sister,

So long a time has elapsed

since I have written to any member of

the family except PA, that I am some

what at a loss how to begin today. I

have been disabled by a sore hand for the

last month, & have found it difficult

to write even short business letters which

now absolutely necessary. My hand is

now almost well however, & I don't

anticipate any further trouble from it.

For three weeks past we have been enjoy

ing the most delightful fall weather,

& from present appearances we may look

forward to its continuance for some time

longer. How is it in Winchester? Have

you had your share of fine weather

this fall too? Frank left us for Alexandria

two weeks ago, although we haven't heard

from him, we take it for granted he

is safely at home long before this. Now I

think of it, only a week has passed since

he left, but time drags on slowly with

us here, & one is very apt to make two

weeks out of one. Uncle Fred is still here

but expects to start homewards on

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next Tuesday. Both he & his wife, as well as

the rest of us, are quite well. Uncle Rich-

ard speaks sometimes of going with him,

but I have very little idea that he will be

ready when the time comes. The boys are quite

busy just now, & are getting along very

well. Money matters are becoming rather tight

here in consequence of the excitement in

the South occasioned by Lincoln's election,

but we hope that it will subside

in the course of a few months & that the

people throughout the Union will quietly

resume the even tenor of their way, & [?]

[?] it with as good a grace as possible,

to an administration, which after all,

will be capable of doing very little injustice

to the interests of the Southern States.

I [?]. I have to thank you dear sis-

ter for several letters which have been

unanswered but which I assure you

have by no means been unappreciated.

I was very much interested in your ac-

count of your visit to New England, &

should have been delighted to have taken

the trip with you. I suppose you made

many agreeable acquaintances during your

visit, whom you will always think of 

with pleasure. By the way, speaking of Nor-

thern people, what has become of your friend

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Mr. Dana, whose wedding created such a

sensation in Alexandria? Has he returned to

his native snows, or penetrated still deeper

into the "sunny south"? I observe by the "Alex-

andria Sentinel" that Mr. Walker has ac-

cepted the call given him by the vestry of

"Christ Church." I should think his present

congregation would be very loathe to lose him.

Whom do you get in his place?  Give a great

deal of love to dear Mother, Father, Sister

Hattie & Nina, & tell Ma I was very great-

ful to her for her letter which came to

hand a week or two ago, & shall answer

it very soon. I am also in Pa's debt , & in

Nina and Sister Hattie's too, I am afraid.

I hope you will all be as lenient creditors

as possible, & I will try & pay up sooner or

later. It gives me great pleasure to get let-

ters from home, & in spite of my want of punc-

tuality in replying to them, I shall still hope

to hear from you, whenever you have leisure

& inclination.

Your very affectionate brother,

Lloyd Powell