.OTI4.MTUwMA
Clarkesville October 6th 1863 Tuesday
This is your day for a letter, my beloved Husband, and in the midst of running about I must find time to send you, at least, a few lines. The hurry is this – I have at last succeeded in getting the carpenter and yesterday & to-day he has been hard at work. Yesterday the warped plank was fixed in the “Salon” (the room under the dining room, and a common door made. When it is cleaned up I shall take it for the dining room. To-day the carpenter is manufac- turing the ugliest hen hose I think I ever saw, by the smoke house, in front of the parlour window, placed against the smoke house to save plank. I must put up a hedge or use bush to hide it from view. This morning I went to the Post Office hoping, tho’ not much expecting a letter from you.
Wednesday morning. At this point I had to lay aside my letter to see something about dinner, and I expect in a few minutes to have to do the same thing to see about breakfast. The carpenter is here again to-day fixing up the enclosure of the lot and garden which is very open and gives me a great deal of trouble to keep other peoples pigs out and our own chickens in .
As I expected I was called off, and really when I am often interrupted there is very poor satisfaction in writing. I have earnestly wished for the last [underlined] two weeks to write to Mr. Hodges but the constant demand upon my time take away all [there?] is time for pleasant letter writing. Writing to you so frequently as I do, I am apt to use repetition if so, you must pardon my forgetfulness. If it is any comfort to you to know it at the expiration of the month of your absence I missed and longed for your [s..ity?] more than at the beginning. Sunday is a famous time for writing you when I really am resting from my labors
[Pg2]
and have time for enjoyment. A funny thing happened to me last Sunday afternoon. I was lying on the lounge in the parlour and had been taking a nap, but was then wide awake & reading. I heard a step, saw a shadow and looked up to find our crazy neighbour standing at my feet. She had been represented to me as a great rogue, and that we had best take no notice of her – this I had carefully avoided doing, and lo, there she stood by my side, on the impulse of the moment, I got up escort =ed her to the front door and [...ted?] her out by stating we did “not receive visitors Sunday evening” I don’t know whether I was right or wrong, it was all too sudden for thought. But on the whole, though it was unpleasant, I think, it was decidedly best, for now the chances are she will not intrude again, tho’ she may make the “welkin ring” with my want of courtesy. I hope, should the poor creature suffer at any time, that I shall not be behind others in minis =tering to her necessity. Last night George stayed with Helen. She is my aunt and so kind. I was quite delighted that she mentioned her Mother was sadly at a loss for eggs having but two – I had a plenty, and was proud[underlined] to send Mrs. C_ a dozen when George went home this morning.
My darling Husband will not think I have not striven to write to him because, I must send him this short letter? I will try to write again on Friday, and do hope I may be fortunate enough to hear from you shortly. Our boy is well and has a thousand charms, How I wish you could see him. He is a most sensitive little creature, a loud voice makes him put up his life. Poor child, how will he fare in this rough world? So many kisses & so much love from you devoted Wife.
