ENPages
1
Stephens Papers, Emory
A.H. Stephens to John A. Stephens
Liberty Hall Crawfordville Ga. 16 April 1873
Dear John: I am not at Hancock Court as I expected to be this week. Eliza is in a bad condition. Harry cannot leave home, or I could not ask him to do so while Eliza is in the condition she now is and I could not leave without his going with me. Billy has gone over. In consequence of Eliza condition I have been compelled to disband my law class. My household, kitchen larder & smoke house affairs could not be carried on upon its basis of half dozen boarders without Elizas supervision. She was the main spoke in that wheel. The family that is the white family is now in Billys temporary absence reduced to the Parson and myself. Everything has a lonely and sombre appearance about the premises compared with the life compared with the and jovial hilarity exhibited a short time ago.
The most disagreeable part of the whole matter is the cause of Elizas condition. It is really nothing but mental distress from her apprehensions that Dora is pregnant. These apprehensions I think from all I can ascertain are from very slight circumstances. Still it may be so. The very idea has completely overwhelmed her physically as well as mentally. She is confined to her bed and grieves more bitterly than if her daughter was dead. This latter items is all for yourself only. I will keep you informed as to the further progress of events. Dr. Beasley reports to me his opinion that Elizas fears apprehensions are not well founded. He can discover no certain evidences of the fact as yet. Still it may be so. This opinion he has given Eliza which has releived her to some extent - though not fully by any means.
Your truly Alexander H. Stephens