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Rome December 91, 1862

Friday Evening

Darling Mother,

I have just received yours and my

dear Father's letters, and had been thinking so

much of our last Xmas together that I must

recall it to you. I can't remember whether [Nita?] Lee

and Penny Bedinger were there Christmas day

or came on the day after, but I think they came

after. But don't you remember you made a

plum pudding because it was darling Charley's

first Xmas at home for so long and we tried

so hard to be bright and cheerful because it was his

first, and [we?] invited George Bedinger to dinner and

Capt. Patterson from over at Mrs. [?], but Capt

Patterson went to Dr. Stewart Baldwins and George would

not get here because so many had asked be

fore him. Charley had been down into Clark Co

already the day before and it was a little doubtful wheth

er he could get back, and he went again the day

after Xmas. Then don't you remember we went to

church, and some of the Lexington boys, belonging to

the Rockbridge Artillery sat just behind us and you

were wishing so much you had turned round

and asked them to dine with you, but you did

not and after we got home we were talking

about it, and Charley went back to the church

to see if he could get any of them but they were

all going to Mr. Williams's, oh I remember it all

so well. And don't you remember you gave

darling Charley a pair of kid gloves that he was

so much pleased with; dear Father was in Rich

mond, so we spent our Xmas [alone?] after all.

[Page 2]

Oh Darling Mother, will this earth ever seem

like the same earth again? When, when will

God take us all, it does seem to me sometimes

as if I must cry out in despair that the burden

of life was too heavy for me to bear, and if it is

so with me who am young and strong what must

it be to you and my precious father. I keep saying

over to myself, only a little while, only a little while

longer, but the way does seem so long and toilsome.

Sunday. I have been reading dear Minnie's bible this

morning Mother, and finding some verses written in

the back of the book from Isaiah. I began at the 48th

chapter and read through to the end, do not read it dear

Mother it contains many precious promises, and our

only comfort. Today is communion Sunday at our

church, and I was greatly disappointed that I could

not go, but the close carriage got broken on Friday

and could not be mended in time. Mr. Bolling offered to

take me in his buggy, but it is so bitter cold and the ride

so long, 10 miles, and the church so cold with no carpet

that I was afraid to venture. Col Tucker has not come

nor have we heard a word from him, but it is his custom,

he [never?] writes. The servants have quieted down, we never ap

prehended any danger from them but thought they [?]

intend going off in a body. I thought I should hear from

Sister Friday, whether she and Nina would come over here and

spend Xmas with me, but I did not. I suppose I shall

hear tomorrow. I do wish some of us could be with you

and dear Father. but we must bear it as best as we can.

God bless and comfort you my precious Mother and

bring us all together again in His own good time.

Ever your loving daughter,

Hattie L Powell