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Hattie Powell Blenheim Albemarle County Virginia to Nina Powell Richmond Virginia 30 January 1865

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Blenheim Jan 30th 1865

Monday night

My own precious Nina,

Your letter is just received

and fills me with feelings which

I am not able to describe. You know

it was not unexpected to me, and I do

indeed my own darling one most deep

ly sympathize with you in your new

found happiness. Tho' I have never expe-

rienced it I can fully realize what

happines it must be to be loved so dearly

and by one so truly noble as I fully be-

lieve Mr. Dupuy to be. I do indeed wish

I was with you that I might put my

arms around you & tell you how deeply

I sympathize with you, for your hap-

piness is mine my child, you are the

dearest thing in this world to me, and

when I give you to Mr. John I give my

happiness as well as yours into his

keeping. Do not chide the tears which

will rise when I feel that I must

give up my little sister I rejoice

at it still and believe that you are

[Page 2]

right in what you have done. Like you

I am sure I coudl not have resisted

such an appeal, and I am glad that

you have found one who can in some

degree appreciate my little darling.

I tihnk you are right in not putting

off your engagement, what is the use

of putting off what you are already

fully determined upon doing. As to my

thinking you foolish little one, I can't

help thinking all the time how my little

sister got so wise in such matters. You

manage them much better than

I ever could, I do not like to give you

my advice but I should [?] what

I attempt to improve. I think I am

bad hand to come to for advice, but

I can always give my sympathy &

come to you for the advice, I think

you did well to mention the insanity

I think it is always best that there

should be nothing to be found out after-

wards. I think your letter was in all re-

spects right, I suppose I need not tell you

so now [?], for he has himself assured

you of it. And he is indeed all you say

intelligent, thoughtful, gentle, affection-

ate, high-minded, high principled, young

[page 3]

man, and it was as you say [ennobling?] to

have loved such [an one?], but do not

expect to find him perfect, remember

he has a temper of his own, but I do

not feel the anxiety about it that I once

should have done; Temper under the

controls of strong Christian princi-

ple only gives energy to the character.

God in mercy spare him through this

war shall be from hense forth my

daily prayer. Do not trouble yourself now

with the thought of the separation after

the war, no telling where we may all

settle then. It may be we shall follow

you at any rate it is too far off & too un-

certain now to let it be a source of un-

happiness, & you can be very certain that

we will not love you the less for that.

Do you intend to keep your engagement a

secret, or let it be generally known in

the family and will hi let it be known

in his family. Now darling we come to

Willie & I am utterly at a loss to know

what advice to give you. It seems to me

that this letter would be the straight for-

ward honorable course to persue, and

I know of no other way in which you

[Page 4]

could get at him, except through Lettie

she knows all about what happened &

can understand your feelings & actions

under the circumstances, and she

might make the explanation still I

should think he would rather it should

come direct from you. Poor fellow I do

indeed feel sorry for him, for I believe

he loved as truely as any one ever did.

I am amused at your idea that

you wish he would fall in love with

someone else, I reckon every girl has

wished that when she found a love too

constant, but it seems they will be [?]

when one don't want them to be, and not

when one does. Remember you have

promised tolet me see some of your

Johnnies letters sometimes, can't you

send me some of those you have got-

ten already. And so he is coming down

again in two weeks, well I am glad

I hope you will see as much of him

as possible whle he is in Va, but people

will soon beging to suspect at that rate

and I expect to hear the report from

the Stewarts by the nextletter. I am now

knitting a beautiful pair of gloves which

[sideways on page 1]

I intended sending to Mr. John in your name, but

now I have a great mind to send them in my own.

What do you say, I would rather send them as you

prefer, if I send them in your name you will have

to explain, if I send them in my own, shall I write

him a note with them and what sort of a note.

Shall I tell him that I gie my consent to him taking

my sister provided he makes her happy, and promise

to love him as a brother. I can truly promise him that

for he was always as special favorite with me. Give my

love to him when you write & tell him I promise never to

quarrel with him again. I do wish I could see him.

Well to return to less important affairs I sent Minnie

in a bundle of yarn I sent to Mollie 15 dol & asked

[sideways across page 2]

to get me some letter paper, I will send 5 more in this

if you are in town I wish if you think it best t oget it soon.

I am not in immediate want of it, that would would send

it to Mr. John Bookers for Mr. Hobson to bring up, he told me

yesterday he would not go down for about two weeks. Let me

know too about the straw splitter. I ahve one more pair

of gloves besides these I am knitting for John. I thought

of sending them to Frank. Do you think he needs them.

Let me know. Let me know about my cotton as soon

as you can, I should not like to send Mrs. B very in-

different cotton, would rather pay a higher price for it. I should

like to have some of your coral beads. I have not enough left

of mine for my net, say one strand & those that are [pendant?]

from yours that would still have your necklasce full enough

to wear. I will send 10 dol instead of five you may want

it eitehr about my paper or cotton. I did intend writing you

[sideways across page 3]

a much longer letter Nina darling, and feel as if I have not

said half I wanted to say upon the subject of your engage-

ment, but I only began my letter last night intending to

devote this day to finishing it, but when I came out of school

I found Sue Hooper, two Miss [Fragiers?] and Capt Nicholson

here & they did not leave until dark so now I have only a

little time in whcih to finish it as the Dr. makes a great fuss

if I have the candle late. But remember one thing darling I

never get tired of hearing ofit, so you must write of him & tell

me all that passes. What position will John have since Gen

[Strahl's] death. Write soon darling and tell me all about his

second visit.

Your own loving Sister

Hattie