Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, December 9, 1843

Coolaran Dec 9th 1843 My dear son I have been confined to my roome all these Christmas time by sickness so you may know it has not passed very agreeable. It was natural I should compare the present with the past. This time last year you was hear now you are not--But this is not the worst of my afflictions. Ask your own heart what it is. It will tell you that you have locked it up from your mothers, she has no access to it. I am convinced you have been overwhelmed with difficultys since I last saw you. Knowing this, could I be happy? But, it would of afforded me some satisfaction to heard from you a history of all. Your silence make me fear you are melancolly on the occasion. One of my greatest wishes is to see you once more and find you are yourself gain. I remember of seeing recently a remark of some one on the love of a mother, it is so much in accordance with my own feeling that I cannot resist the impulse of this moment to transcribe it. "A mans mother is the representative of his maker. Misfortune and even crime set up no barrier between her and her son. Whilst his mother lives, he will have one friend on earth who will not listen when he is slandered, who will not desert him when he suffers; who will solace him in his sorrow, and speak to him of hope when he

is ready to dispair. Her affection knows no ebbing tide. It flows on from a pure fountain, spreading happiness through all this vale of tears, and ceases only at the ocean of eternity." True, true-I will wish you a happy new year. Bury our late sorrows in oblivion, and commence a new life with the year. We have had a very disagreeable winter so far, it has been rane or snow continualy, our Citizens are very sickly and often fatal over children are very much afflicted with the hooping cough, Frances Morton has it too and all the black children. We have a fine time of it dont you think? How I do wish you could see your name sake she bares her afflictions like a heroine. She is the most interesting of any of them at her age. She is still small but spightly as a kitten She is caled Theodore more than Theodora. Mary remindes me often of you. She is affetionate, has a remarkable sence of justice, generous and a first rate memory. These are the trates of caracter that she reminds me of you. Paulina is her father over again She is fier and toe when her temper is up But a true disinterested and kind friend. Liz. is a compound of a Morton and Sloan. Bob went to Frankfort this morning. His health I think is better this winter in fact it has been improving ever since. he has been temperance man I do dislike to see him so very much ingaged in business, he has not one moment in the twenty four hours for social intercorse with his family I do not like it--The family consists of the same individuals as when you left, with one more. (Frances Morton) she will go home in the spring Washington will live with us an other year. We will have a wedding in the house next spring, guess--It will be a white one. I have had a hint that we will have two. I tell you all when it happens. Magaretta has had bad health for some time. I hope God will spare her longer for the sake of her children

Christy is still as stubern as a jack. I am told he drinks as ever. I believe Mag is so unhappy at being depending that she would go and live with him if he was to make any advances. Mrs Hickey has been interesting herself very much to make a reconcilation. But his terms would bring disgrace upon misforune. Therefore Mag. said she never would agree to any proposition that her friend did not think honourable Mary Jane is of corse with her yet. I do not think either are calculated to get on in this sensorious world without a guid or directer. I have got your late uncles wach, it is now mine forever. I will explain all to you some day, but not now. strange things will happen I have much to say to you of Mrs H. but I must pospon it another time. I have just received a letter from Joanna stating that her the Doc. David and James has been very ill this fall, and are sill sick Sarah has chills and fever but the others had bilious fever. Robert is anxious of that I shall go as soon as I can to visit them and give them all the comfort I can I have consented to go, but I cannot go untill the first of May. Mr and Mrs Morton will be here by the last of April if the spring is good. I am wiling to go with them. But we will have to separate at St. Louis. However Morton will get me in a good boat and place me under protection of the Capten to Hannabel. I will be pleasantly situated with a Mrs Hawkins who keeps boarding house in that place. she was formely from Georgetown, an old accaintance of Joanna and Bob. I am under an engageme to go and spend next sumer at Madisonville but I shall have to brake it as I feel it would be charitable to visit the afflicted. If I do not see or hear from you by letter by the time I go I shall depart with a heavy heart. Can it be posible that so reasonable a request can be denied me by you. A letter from you would be treate to all the household. But to see you would joy to all your relations yea even to Mary Jane. Elizabeth and the children sends you love by the quantity Your mother and friend B. Sloan

Lieut Thomas T. Sloan U.S. Marine Corps Washington City