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Blenheim, October 31st
Sunday Morning
Darling Nina,
I wrote you a long let
ter a few days ago and have just re
turned from [Emanuel?] so I can't
write you a long letter, but the Dr.
is going to Richmond tomorrow, so
I will write a few lines to send with
the things I send you. I am indeed
disturbed darling that you are hav
ing such a hard time with B.
It is too outrageous for anything, but
that is exactly the way Maria T. treat
ed me for 15 months. As to her not
improving, I would not trouble my
self about that at all. You do your duty
when you give her the opportunity, if
she don't choose to profit by it, that is
her [lookout?], and I should plainly [tell?]
her. When I corrected her and she did
not do what was right, "My [?] B
I tell you what is right, if you are so
[Page 2]
conceited as to think that you know better
you can take your own course, it
don't make a straw's difference to
me whether you improve or not."
I think I would have managed M
better in that way, for the more anx
ious she thinks you are about it, the
more she will set herself against
you, and there is no hope of improving
such a girl as that, all you can do is
to give her the opportunity. As to in your
room, you will be obliged to bear a great
deal that is disagreeable, I know, but
try and not let her see that you mind
it, burn your candle as long as you
please without reference to whether
she sits up or not, and if she says
any thing about it, just cooly tell her
you intend to do so, and if you do
in self defence have to put it out
don't let her [on?] that you do it for that
reason, show as much cool indiffer
ence to her as you can and she
will admire you the more for it.
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The only way to rule such a person
is by cool indifference and indepen
dence, and if you could occasionally
give her a right hard cut in a
cool way it would do her good, but
don't let your self get nervous about
it, for if she sees she can make you
that, she will be delighted. I know
it is very hard darling, but bear up
bravely under it as long as you can
and next year you just won't go back
again, or you can stop in the mid
dle of the year if it becomes un
bearable. Go in to Richmond as often
as you can and get as much plea
sure as you can in other ways, to
enable you to bear this. I went over to
Mr. [?] on Friday night, and Satur
day morning. Mrs. H and I drove over
to Mr. Hurts in the buggy attended
by Mr. Bolling on horseback. John
Bolling, an older brother of this
one will be up on Thursday and we
[Page 4]
are all going over to Minna's wedding
on Thursday. I will write to you dir
ectly I get back. I have not heard
from Willie yet, I don't know what
to make of it. I am so tired and it is so
dark I must stop. Write soon to -
own fondly loving sister,
Hattie
[Bottom of Letter]
I send you some silk that way to do
embroider your gloves, and also the
gloves you wanted. I am so glad you [?]
the gloves and lace, I am not in
want of any just now but will send
[Upside down]: Miss Nina L. Powell
for some if I should. Take good care
of it. About the slippers, I would exchange
them for garters or any thing else that
would be of use they are of no use as they
are, and what ever I mean to pay I
will pay, for I will have to get shoes in
the next year and they will certainly
count for something in the exchange.
I have sold my dress for 170 and Mrs. H is go
ing to send the money to Mrs. Dr. [?]
[?] of R to get me another. After Mary
T. did me about the shoes I did not
care to trouble her, but I am glad you
like her better than B. Good night Hattie
