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Blenheim March 21st 1864

My own darling Mother,

Many thanks for your last most welcome

letter received a week ago. I intended answering it all last week

but I could not find time. Mr. or rather Capt Morgan is here & as

I am the only young lady in the house I am obliged to to give

up a good deal of my time out of school to entertaining him.

I had letters from Sister and Nina by the last mail. Nina

had been sick somewhat as I was Xmas I suppose but she

said she was quite well again. She said she had given up

her trip to see you Easter, it was no doubt a disappointment

to her but she seemed to be very cheerful and happy still. She has

been nearer the Yankees than ever any of us were before. I am

thankful it was in the night so that they did not come in the

house. I had a letter from Pa too last Monday, and was disturbed

to hear he had sprained his ankle. I hope he is over it by this time

but fear it will be always giving him trouble. He told me he had

been to Uncle Gordons & [saw?] Uncle W. but did not give me one

bit of news or even mention how how Grandma was. I have been having

a pleasant time since I wrote last. Captain Morgan has been here

and we have been visiting about together. Last Saturday week

[?] Mattie, Norvell, and myself went over to Mr. W. Hobson's in

the [jumble?] cart, we had a merry ride & a pleasant day; Fri-

day we all went to Hobson's Chapel about 5 miles from here to

hear Dr. H read the service. We, Mr. W. Hobson, & one other lady

were the whole congregation. Monday when I came out of

school I found Fannie here & she staid until Thursday.

Friday after school Mr. Morgan & I went over to Mr. Burwell's

and Saturday morning down to Mr. Harris's to see Fannie,

from there to church on Sunday and then home. Tomorrow

I take in school at eight and dine at Mr. Burwell's & ei-

ther Thursday evening after school or Friday from church

we are going down to Fannie's again, where I shall

stay until Monday. Capt Morgan leaves for the army Satur-

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day morning. I shall miss him very much when he is gone.

I find him a very pleasant companion, and besides he has

a very fine buggy horse & the Dr's horses are in such a

dreadful condition that I am afraid we won't even be

able to get to church after he is gone. I do enjoy going down

to Mr. Harris's. They seem so fond of me & so glad to see me &

I am so fond of them. We have no church at Emanuel next

Sunday so Fannie and I are going over to St. Luke's in Ame-

lia. I had a nice long letter from Mrs. Tucker today. John

has graduated and was highly complemented by the Prof

on his examination. They have real small pox on one of the

plantations near them. Dr. Jones attending it, lost 16 with that

and whooping cough combined. I would send you her letter

but I have one to send you from Gettie Sister sent me by

the last mail. Poor Gettie, they have a hard time, Sister says send

it back to her. And so Bettie McGuire is married. Were you not

surprised at Holmes's engagement, can you imagine how he

expects to support a wife. Thank you for the address of [Congress?]. I had

noticed [Jamie?] Washington's marriage, also Ben [Carter's?]. I have

not heard a word from Minnie Lloyd yet. I am busy this

week making new sleeves to my black and white dress, I have fin-

ished my chemises. I do not think it would be a good plan to

put a quilling around the bottom of my grey dress of that material

like my thin black dress, it catches every bit of dirt so & pulls so that

I think it would so soon look badly, & I should be obliged to take a

width out of the skirt of the black dress to do it with. I have

none left. I can't turn down the rim of the hat I have. There

is not straw enough in it, but I think I shall get a hat &

wear it altogether this summer & not even fix my bonnet.

I can buy the straw ready plaited here, but I don't know at what

price. Could you get me a vail of any kind at the C.H. I have

none of any kind except that blk one of yours and [? - too faint]

for every Sunday, I want a thicker one. I have just made my

self such a nice pair of cloth gloves for walking and riding [?]

Fannie gave me the cloth out of the scraps pieces her father bought

from government to [wear?] blankets for his servant. Cousin John

is here to-night, but he looks badly. His diphtheria is badly. He thinks

[across page 1]

he will be oblig-

ed to stop pray-

ing for a time and

go to the army; Seems

to fear it will affect

his mind. One of

my scholars, Maggie

Harris has just [lost?]

her only sister , a year

of 2 with measles.

I believe I have

told you everything

now dear Mother ex-

cept how much I

want to see you.

Please write soon

& tell me how you

are & how getting

along. Love to all

Your loving daughter

Hattie P.

Wednesday

The snow is

knee deep around

the house this

morning.