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Mill Quarter January 6, 1864

Wednesday Morning

I reckon you are wondering dear Mother

what has become of me and will be astonished to hear

that I am still at Mr. Harris's. I was to have gone

home with Dr. H[obson] from church last Sunday or if

any thing prevented him from coming to church

he was to send for me on Monday but he was not

at church and here is Wednesday and nothing been

heard from him. Norvell was right sick when I

was there last had had pain in the head and fever every

night for a week, they were very uneasy lest she should

be going to have the fever too, and I am afraid

it may be that which prevents the Dr. from com-

ing. Now I must give you an account of my

Xmas which has been much more pleasant than

I expected. Xmas day I came home from church

with Fannie, and found beside the family Lieutenant

Blackford here and one of her Brothers who is in the

army Capt Harris. Fannie and I both lost our hearts

with Lieut B, he is very handsome, waits on ladies

more agreeably than anyone I ever saw and w[oul]d

sit for hours and entertain Fannie and myself in the most

impartial and agreeable manner, conversation just

seemed to flow out of his mouth without the least

effort. Capt H is very handsome too and I liked him

very much, but I never could get along with

him as I could with Mr B, it was the hardest

matter in the world to keep up a conversation with

him and I never did succeed but once the whole

time we were in the house together, he left yester-

day. Xmas day Mr. Harrison and Lieut Blair dined

here and that night they all went off to a dancing party.

[Page 2]

Fannie and I did not go, but spent the evening quietly

and pleasantly at home. Saturday evening we all[?]

ded by Miss Maria went to the party at Mrs. Robert

[Dabney's?] she was a Miss [Mary?] of Fredericksburg and is one

of the handsomest and most pleasant persons I have ever

met. I expected to have a very dull evening as I knew

no one there, but I found Cousins John and Annie there

and soon Pa's friend Mrs. Cocke came up to me and I had

a very pleasant evening indeed. We had a most delight-

ful supper, chicken salad, ice cream, jelly, brandy peaches

cake etc. etc. We did not get home until after one o'clock

though we left there before eleven. Monday we were

invited to Mr. [?] [Michaux?] to his birthday din-

ner, being assured at Mr. Dabneys by [Lennie?] that

they would have no dancing as her Aunt (the old

lady who was so kind to Father) had died less

than a month ago and they were in the deepest mourn-

ing. Well we went, 15 miles, got there about 5

found dinner ready and did not see Mr or Mrs M

until after diner some time. But here I tell

you of one thing we had for dinner that will

make your mouth water, oysters, great big, fat

oysters, I tell you I did enjoy them. I had a married

gentleman sitting next me, and he helped me twice

to the [?] and once to raise. Well after dinner we went

to the parlor and Mrs. Cocke told Mr. Michaux that I was

Father's daughter and if she had told him I was queen

of England He could not have made more fuss over me

he squeezed my hand so that I could hardly stand

it, he is very french in his manners, says he loves

Pa better than any man in the world, I don't

believe there ever was another such man, that every

body will go a little too far at one time and not far enough

at another, but Mr. Powell was always exactly right

and he would appeal to Mrs. C to know if it were not so.

Don't give my regards to him, give my love, yes my

love, for he is a man I love to fold to my heart.

I can't remember now half he said, but after he

had exhausted himself he went after Mrs. M, drew

[Page 3]

her out in the floor and made her kiss him first for

herself, then for him, and then for Pa. I did not know

when he was going to let us get through. Every now and then

through the evening he would come back and never seemed

to get tired of praising Pa. Not long after dinner the

dancing commenced and as Fannie and I were the only

young people who did not join in it we had a

quiet time. I had the greatest difficulty in get

ing off from dancing with Mr. M, I thought he

would have carried me off bodily. We staid

there all night & when we left about 12 the

next day Mr. M kissed me, I tell you. I did

not like that so much for he had been drink-

ing, and if you were to meet him on the road you

would not be sure whether he were black or white.

Mrs. M is a very handsome lady, looks like [?] [?]

and was as kind & cordial as possible. Mr. Blackford

always went in the carriage with us, so our rides

were as pleasant as the parties. Wednesday we dine

at Mr. Willis Hobsons, staid at Blenheim that night

intended to have come down Thursday & gone to a par

ty Friday at those Miss Hobsons Pa spoke of but the

rain prevented. Fannie says they are ready to

start to the office so I must stop.

Your loving daughter

Hattie L. Powell