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Blenheim October 13th [1864]

Thursday

Dear Nina,

Your most welcome letter

was received a few days ago and I

am delighted to hear you are so well

and getting along so well, do not be

discouraged if you have a little trouble

with [Bab?]. Girls of her age dislike to

[?] with and [?] to

study which they are not so inclin-

ed to but she can't help loving you

after a while and will thank you

the more for it, but I would not

trouble myself too much with it.

I think that is a fault in us

all, we try to do too much and so

wear ourselves out. As to sitting

down stairs, if the family sit in the

dining room after [?] or when

ever they sit there, I would stay

without waiting to be asked, for

a dining room or parlor, or indeed

any common sitting room is [?]

[Page 2]

pond to be free and not to require

an invitation to be entered. I would

if I could sit with the family some

and try to make myself agreeable, they

will love you sooner and make your

home more comfortable. And then

it will be more pleasant for you

when the boys come home (and Mrs.

T says they are as fine boys as ever

were) and when there is company

in the house L was really worried

that Bill Stewart should have given

you [their?] shoes to exchange because

it was her own offer to do it, and she

said there was a store there where

Mary has sometimes exchanged shoes

sent them from England which did not

fit, and they would do it from there

and I expressly told her that I was not in

a hurry for them, any time thru [?]

[?] would do, but it is just like them

they make great fuss and professions but

if it is any trouble they don't stand up

to them, tho you might try sometime.

when you are shopping and if you can

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exchange them or if you can't perhaps

you could put them in some store and

get them sold. I am so glad to hear

John Dupuy has been confirmed, our

church would suit all those Dupuy

better than the [?] [?]. It would

be very pleasant for you to spend the

Xmas with Lettie, but I would not

commit myself to it, because I think

it would be more pleasant if you

have an invitation to spend it in

Richmond. I would go to see Mildred

the first time I went into the city, she

and cousin Mary too will be glad to see you

Ia m sure, and you may meet Custis

and make acquaintances among

the gentlemen, remember we sent you

there that you might see as much

company as possible and you are not to

stick yourself in a corner. I am so

disappointed you did not see Willie,

he intended going to see you I am sure

for he told me he certainly would and

took down your name, Dr. P's and the

brook-turnpike, but there was such a com-

mmotion in town, I reckon they either

[Page 4]

put him in the trenches or ordered

him on duty immediately. Before

he left here he heard that Gen Gar-

diner (who commanded at Port

Hudson when it made such a gallant

defense, and now commands at Mobile)

had telegraphed to the War Department

to know where Lieut Starke was and

to request that he might be sent out

to him immediately. Ah! aint I proud

of my Willie, bless him, but he did

not want to go and requested to be sent

to the Va army, but did not know

what the result would be. I have not

heard a word from him yet, the only

reason I had for thinking he intended

writing to me was that I was knitting

him a pair of gloves which I did not get

done and I asked him how I should di-

rect them when done, he said I

don't know my direction now, but

let me send it to you, won't ? Yes.

And so it passed, but I have not heard

from him yet. Ah! Will these faithless

win, there is no trust to be put in [?]

You know what Cousin David asked

me, well I have not heard a word

[Page 1 crossways]

from him since he left [?] had a letter from

same by the last mail, all [were well?] he said

they had just heard from the boys after the

Waynesboro fight all were safe. Have you begun your

dress yet, I have just finished my night-gowns

I sent Willie Bookers gloves to him the other day and

a pair to Col Pickens, also have my Willie's done and

have yarn enough for two pair more, who would

you suggest my sending them to, I thought of

sending our pairs to [?] her and I used to be very

good friends. Since Willie left, I don't have any

body to come to see me now so I have no news to

tell, so must say good bye. Write soon to your own

fondly loving sister

Hattie L. Powell