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Rome, December 24, 1862
Dear Sister,
I have written to Nina, but since you ask
how I am I am going to write you a real ego-
tistical letter. I am not sick but I have not been
right well since I had that cold. Mrs. T[ucker] thinks I have
a bad cough, but I don't think I have more than I
have every winter, that is I cough [some?] night and morning
in damp weather, when I sit in a cold church, etc. Dr. [?] never
seemed easy about [me?] would look up when I cough in church, and [br?]
[ing?] me from the door to the carriage and ask how that [soreness?]
was, and I had better take the croton oil, but you know my cough al-
ways seemed worse than they are. The last time he asked me I told him
the [soreness?] was still there just the same, well he said I shall
have to [take?] you you must use the oil, so I told him if he would
send it to me I would by a servant who goes there from here every
night [at end?]. He did not send it for a day or two but then came
[soon?] himself and brought it and asked me about the soreness and said
if I was Mrs. [J?] he would tell me I must; as I was Miss H would tell me he
thought I had better, it would not hurt me much (but I tell
you, he was mistaken in that) and I would find much advantage
from it, he thought if I would use it all this winter I might get
rid of it entirely, so I have rubbed it three times. The rest I think is
only Maria worrying, but I don't think I ought to mind it so
much or would if I were strong, she has a way when she gets out
of doing every little thing which she thinks will give trouble
such as holding her book so I can't see, and a thousand little things which
are too much and too numerous to mention, and I get into such a state
that the very taking her book into my hands makes me tremble
from head to foot and my voice shakes so that I can scarcely
hear her, then she will say, oh yes somebody beside me can get
mad, Miss Hattie is so mad she can hardly speak, but it is
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