.NDAw.NTU3

3 April 1863. Good Friday

Dear Nan

I wrote to you very lately to tell you that I had written to cousin Anne by Flag of Truce to tell her that I had sent her letter from the Old Mansion forward to her husband & also that we all were trying to do all we possibly could to ascertain whether her dear son John was a prisoner. I think there is but little room for hope, the current is so [saped?] in those places. I feel great sympathy for the parents, he was a boy of such a delightful disposition. For Genl. D_ I feel much, he will blame himself for allowing him to go alone. – I am sure Cousin Anne will have the strength given to her to support her under the affliction. I have begun my letter with this melancholy theme because I write partly to say once again something of what I dad said twice before

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so that Cousin may know her letter was received. I have written twice to her.

We did not forget that this was your wedding day – Seven years today since you were married. Being Good Friday the dinner was not sumptuous. Salt Fish, mashed potatoes, boiled onions & tomatoes with plenty of egg sauce. Dr. regretted he had not ac- cepted an invitation to dine at a hotel with some friend who had urged it. He seemed to do pretty well. Sarah came in while we were at dinner after a stay for a few days with her [ ? ] friend in the country. She brought home some sea weeds which she has been spreading out on card board this evening. I hope the next anniversary may see the war ended & a return of good feeling between old friends. - I wish you & your husband many happy years with the children whom God has given you. – I long to see you very much. It seems probable I may see your husband before I see you, as I rather expect to go to England this summer. You would be flattered by Uncle Horatio inviting him to stay at his house when he did not invite his own nephew. I suppose the especial compliment is to you[underlined], he being your spouse, & you his favorite niece.

Easter Sunday, 5 April. This morning at 7 A.M., I thought especially of Tobin because he has always been especially attentive in doing little things for me. There was snow on the ground which fell yesterday. It had rained furiously all night. The ground & the tansey were in a freezing condition. I went in my night cap & knitted hood, a red flannel petticoat, a moreen petticoat & a balmoral – a wadded Sacgue, Scotch shawl & mittens, once knitted by our Nan, of bad colored cotton, with fingers. – In this masquerade attire I cut the tansey, leaf by leaf, before any but the servants were out of bed. I felt that had Tobin been at home, he would assuredly have come to help me. – I often make the pudding with mine own hands. I did not today, for the cook ad interim is a Professor[underlined] & I thought her feeling would be wounded. I wrote the receipt for her.

We are actually going to have Anne back again. Mary is better She has had her upper front teeth drawn & is going to have some false ones![underlined] She hopes to be well enough to come back in a fortnight. I shall be glad to have both back. Anne had got into a regular system of doing many things just as I liked. If she could only learn good manners to visitors, be neat in her attire, & less loquacious. Uncle R likes her & was very decided for having her back, which has of course much weight with me. Sarah is very sorry that I am going to take her back, but I think Uncle R’s wishes & my own inclination must carry the day. If I go to England I think it will be a comfort to Sarah to have those whose fidelity is beyond doubt. – I do not expect her to make any protracted visits during my absence, but she will probably be away for a day or two now & then. -

Mrs. McLaughlin has made up my old Black Lace Bonnet once more over some of poor Miss Myer’s silk. I intended to have worn it for Easter Sunday, but the weather was too bad. I wore my new[underlined] strong shoes that I have had made about 4 months but never worn. I do not know whether I ever told you of my having had a last made the size of my foot

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rather a pair of them. I find great comfort from the boots & shoes made upon them, the sole as broad as my foot. Miss L A L indulges herself in the same way – Mrs. Francis also. We are all equally pleased, thinking we have the value of our money in the comfort. When you are 20 years older perhaps you will indulge your feet in the same way. I went yesterday in very bad wea- ther to see a friend of yours who once gave you bed curtains & who has given me some books for Willie & Charlie. She is in great trouble. Her little grandchild between 3 & 4 years old died on Thursday last of Scarlet Fever. Mrs. Farnum’s distress is very great. She feels as a mother, having had the child from he birth when the mother died. The little thing was called Caroline after her mother. She called herself Cagalina & it had become her general name. Mrs. Farnum bought a place at Greens Farms for the good of the children about 18 months ago, which she called The villa Cagalina[Underlined] – She marked all the sheets, towels, & table linen for use there with the name Cagalina. What a trial it will be to go there & make use of all these things. The two older children & the Governess are staying at the Grandmother’s for fear of contagion. 7th I have been to see Mrs. Farnum. she feels [desolec?]. She says nevertheless that she always feared the child was not for life, she had loved her so much, she had been so proud of her. She had been the entire mother to her, she felt she was all her own. – As she talked of her sorrow I thought of you & your dear little Henry. “It is well” no doubt in bother cases. – Mrs. Farnum enquired with affectionate interest about you & yours. – Her mother also. No one was more anxious in enquiries for Johnny than Ellen Lewis’s husband, all well. a letter from cousin M of 20th March all well with him & L at that date Love to all