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Blenheim December 18th 1864

Sunday evening

Your long and delightful

letter dearest Mother was received

by Wednesday mail,and I can't tell

you how glad I was to get it. When

your letter was written I see you had

not received my letter of the 9th, nor

Nina the one of the 11th but I hope both

have come to hand [?] this. I have

gotten all your letters, and two of them

were very long on the road. I had

a letter too from dear Father by the last

mail saying he had gotten released

from his place at Mr. Scott's and written

accepting Mr. [Cable's?] offer, and that you

and he would be together, oh dear

Mother I am so glad, I do hope you will

both be more comfortable now than

you have been for a long long time, but

do pray write and tell me where Mr.

Cable [hires?] for. I have asked Pa over and over

and he never answers and I have not

the least idea. He seems to think Sister

will go too, but she has not said a word

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about it in her letters to me. I ham so

glad Father will not be out in that

office any more. I hope you all will

have a pleasant Xmas, but I am afraid

poor Nina will be very lonely when you

are gone. She will have gotten a good

start tho on the winter, for the year

always seems to me half gone by the

first of January. I hope you will

have good weather for your journey

and shall feel anxious until it is

over. I am so sorry to hear Nina is

losing her hair, but if I were her

I should certainly have it shaved af-

ter Xmas unless she makes some

acquaintance at that time who she

thinks will be apt to see her

very often, for short hair is very becom-

ing to her, and she need not visit in

Richmond for the next three months

and by that time it would be long

enough to be becoming, and I don't think

any think else will restore it. She can

make a flannel cap of a round piece

and then a black silk cap in the same way

and then wear a net over that and a bow on

top as Minnie Lloyd does and the inside

caps will fill up the net and it will not

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look very badly I don't think, but if I

had it done I would have it done

directly after Xmas and have it shaved

backwards three times in the first

week, and then let it grow. Please tell

Nina that a white girl who has been

sewing for Mrs. H goes to Richmond on

Tuesday next and in a bundle going

to Mrs. Stewart I send a little box

containing a Xmas gift for her that

she must wear this Xmas for my sake

I hope it will be becoming to her and that

she will think it pretty. I did not read

the pieces you spoke of in the Sentinel, I

am very sorry I did not see them, but have

been so busy getting through some jobs

before Xmas that I have not read any

thing beyond the news. Oh has not poor

Loudon suffered. I should not be surpri-

sed to hear at any time that both Lees-

burg and Winchester had been burned to

the ground, what suffering there must

be in all that country this winter, and

will you ever be thankful enough that

we came away. Just think of Father being

in a Yankee prison and you within

[bounds?]. And so Mr. [Andrews?] is going to be

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married again and to a yankee

too, I think Mrs. [Boliter?] is more cra-

zy than he is, but poor Lila, it must

be a hard trial to her. I had a long

letter from Mary Chinchester the other

day, dated Nov 28th, she seems to be get-

ting along pretty well, but says she keeps

her [best?] clothes up the chimney, and that

half her time is occupied in trying to find hid-

ing places for her things. She said she

had been to Grandma's that morning

and that it really was a comfort to go

there they all looked and seemed so comforta-

ble and snug. Aunt Jane was so bright and

agreeable and Cattie so sweet she loved to go

there. She did not mention Aunt Mary's

family at all. Said all were well at [?]

[?] [?], but were intensely uneasy

about [?] having heard that she was

extremely ill. She said her letter would

come out by [?] Williams, Ron Bentley,

or Kate [?] (Gray) and begs me to

write, can you tell me how I can get

a letter to her. I was indeed sorry on

dear Aunt [?] account to hear

of Dr. [?] death. I know it is a terri-

ble blow to her and I am afraid they will

suffer, but I can't help feeling as if it was

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best for now she can come to the south and be one of

the family again and that she never could have

been while he lived, at least I know I never could

have felt towards her as I did to other members

of the family and I reckon the others feel so too, and she

would have been so hurt to find it so, if she were

[ever] south. I can't help feeling a kind of relief to

think I never will have to see [her?]. I should think

she would come on to Alexandria and take Grand-

ma's house there and then I should think that Uncle

Richard and Dr. [?]'s brother would not let her

suffer. What work is it Minnie is trying to get, I should

not think examining accounts would suit her

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at all. How is dear Aunt Bee now you did not men-

tion her at all in your last letter. Give my love to her

and Uncle [Bouer?]. Love to all at Franks. Mrs. D and Mrs.

Willie Hobson send love to you. Give much love to dear

Father who I suppose will be with you by the time

you get this letter as he said he was going to

break up his school in Orange last Friday and much to

Nina, and write soon. Wishing you all a merry

Xmas a happy new year and I will bid you good

night. I am perfectly well, have gotten over my

rheumatism and cold. God bless and keep you precious

Mother. Your loving daughter

Hattie L Powell