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“Old Mansion” Novr 21st 1862

My Dear Nan

(I had no intention of letting your letter remain un- answered so long but from time to time it was put off in Richmond & then I thought I should have plenty of time [at the – crossed out] up here & perhaps be in want[underlined] of amusement[underlined]. But) as you may have heard; for a month after coming here I was confined almost entirely to the couch & as soon as I was able to go about went to Fredericksburg where I like to have been caught by the Yanks for the very evening I left town they planted cannon on the hills over the river. I went up especially for Willy who had so serious a cough & had been under the weather so much that cousin Anne wrote for me to come up & see him & I decided to bring him home hoping the country air & out door exercise may set him up entirely. Cousin Brodie had put a blister on his breast which relieved the cough almost entirely & he has improved con- siderably (since he came down though it has been raining almost ever since so that he can not get out. Cousin B. told me he did not think seriously of the cough only I must be very careful of him.) I had a note from cousin Anne this evening saying they were all packed & the wagon at the door to leave for somewhere in the country I then concluded to re -main. It is a great undertaking for her with such a family to move off & not know which way to go. (She wrote to [?] in case they staid there if I could persuade Ankey to come & do their light cooking & empty the slops & if so would I write to you on the subject. (I had said this [?] I was going to write you tonight) But Ankey says she could not undertake to cook as she knows nothing about it & besides she could not learn [?] -[?] until after her troubles are over. I was out at her house yesterday)

[Marginalia]

(I hear Maria’s child is very sick again. It is very delicate.) Won’t you please when

you write send me [word-crossed out] your recipe for making po made out of beef’s mar row & what to scent it with [?] much (love to cousin Lewis & Jane & Mary Lew -is. Kiss the boys for me & remember me affection -ately to Delia Has Willy gone to you yet He went off very cheerful -ly – as soon as the weather clears I am going visit -ing around the neigh- -bourhood for I have not been able since I came ‘til now.

[Pg2]

& [Savinea?] was looking very bright. She expects every day. Tell Delia Ankey says that [grun linsey?] is not here & must be in Richmond) I have had a lazy fit on me for some time & must stir up & go to work next week to alter some of the old clothes for the boys. I have not bought any thing this fall for either the children or myself & am truly glad that I can get along so well without. Jack sent me an elegant fatigue jacket of his for one of the boys (& Walker insists on having it made up in the same style for himself He is getting to read very well & I hear him & teach him to write: he says his spelling & arithmetic to Lucy who petitioned to have with Annie as a spur to both. I suppose Willy begins to read now & Charley must be dres- sed in trousers this winter. Kiss them both for me & tell Charley Lucy is as fat & saucy as she can be. She plays out at Ankey’s house with Lizzy all day Eliza asked me the other day in town where Lucy got that nose saying “it is not like yours or cousin Charles’” She said directly “God made it.” I am truly glad you have found such kind friends in Milton. You are enjoying Cousin Lewis’ company now too. I wish he could stay with you ‘til your troubles are over. Is’nt January the time? What sort of a Dr have you? Charles has gone to Raleigh & perhaps further south. I hope though he’ll be back the last of this week. Cousin Finella & Mr White took

                                    (Fredricksburg)

a trip to Richmond while I was in F.) The poor old place ^ looks terribly deserted but I enjoyed my visit there very much. I took Amandor up to see her Mother & was much relieved that she found her there for almost all the servants had left. (I head to day that William was in Richmond How much you will enjoy seeing him. Was Alice still Sick? that her Mother is there so long?) Betty Roper asked me to tell you she did her best to get that bun -dle to you as soon as you wrote but owing to the difficulties on the road where the

bridge is broken she could not get it taken to Richmond (‘til Jim came up. He took it.)

[Marginalia]

I suppose you have sewing enough to keep you com pany. You must miss your machine mightily Please write to me soon & believe me ever your affect Sister S.F.M