Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, June 12, 1836

Lexington June 12th 1836

My dear son I have five of your letters, laying before me at this time unanswered. You have been apprised of my illness through your Uncle T. and Bob. I am happy to say I am much relieved, at least I am free from the feaver [fever] which I was first attacked with. But I am a grate [great] suffer [sufferer] from indigestion. My strenth [strength] returnes [returns] very slowly. I have quit all medison [medicine] my only dependence now, for my intire [entire] recovery is riding which I do as much as I can. I expect I shall go in Clark County in a short time for the benifit [benefit] of a certain spring of medical watter. [water] I feel it my duty whilst I am in this mortal life to imbrace [embrace] every opertunity [opportunity] that presents itself to promote my health. Robert received a letter from you on saturday last I forget the date, but I remember you wrote it in Georgia, and I remember you saying you were writing on your cap in the woods. You also say you had got a letter from your Uncle informing you of my sickness, Bob wrote to you on the same subject and directed to the same place, I was more than surprised that you did not get his letter, I do regret it very much indeed, it is seldom he is in the spirit of letter writing, and if I remember right one of his letters before this was lost, but I hope you may get it yet. Your brother has delicate health since this summer, I think a northren [northern] climet climate] would be better for his constitution, he speaks of seeking a strange time this winter, and so will the Judge and Christy. Elizabeth is now spending a week at her Fathers. You ask why she dose [does] not write to you, the only reason I can offer is that she has a very sore hand and her right hand too, she accidintly [accidentally] received a cut with a carving knife on the joint of her thumbe [thumb] to the bone she often speaks of you to her dear babe as though it could under stand all she was saying, yes Uncle Theodore has become very formilar [familiar] with us I expect Josephine Cristy will know you as soon as she sees you, you have been discribed [described] so minutely to her, I could not help laughing last evening at her smartness, I was describing your person to her, she stoped [stopped] me in the midst of my discription [description] by saying yes, yes, I know mama told me, but the joke was she was tired hearing it so often

Your old friend Mr Prentice has been in this place this spring I was told he inquired after you very particularly and spoke of you with respect, and expressed much good feeling for you I have been formely , no admirer of his, but I cannot help being gratefull to a dog that has good feeling towards my children Mr Logne has returned to our City from Europe. He told Bob he expected to see you in Washington, and hunted for you, until he was told where you were gon. And Jilson Harrison was here weeks since on his way to the estern states on a trip, of pleasure with his wife. He call to see me, but I did not see his wife as I was too much indisposed to call on her. Harrison is very changed he is thin in flesh but has good health. He inquired after you, thinking that perhaps you may be returned by that time. I am induced from the impore of severa of your last letters to fear my dear son that you are not happy can it be so? I thought you more of a soldier, take the world as you me it, this world or this life is a pilgrimage, of cross es and warfare therefore we must as christians be resigned to our fate and say in our heart, thy will Oh, God be done. I do think and believe it is natural for us to feel our afflictions and disappointent, but we should not repire. I am inclined to think you are to marry. I have, but, I should be sorry very sorry for you to do so for that reason. I hope you will never marry untill you can do it with your owne free will, and that it is the greatest wish of your heart. But Theodore, I as a Mother and friend advise you, if ever you do come to the conclusion to marry to select a girl of a good and strong naural mind, it is of much more importance than the dispotion. The mind governs all, for those that act from impulse or passion have no mind. Such an individual cannot make you or any man happy. I am speaking on a subjects that is not nearest my heart. the salvation of your soul is the most promenant wish of my heart my daly prayers are offered up to the throne of{ merk} for this purpose, when I see my children good christians I shall feel as though my task was done, my sturdship was up. If you find me not pleasing or uninteresting I hope you will attribute to my greate anxiety for you and not the slitest wish to make myself disagreeable to you. Bengimin Bradford has been in this place lately, he was from Texas, he was one of the few that made their escape at the massecree at the Church. Your Brother saw him and conversed with him. he has returned and I hope he may not fall by those Spanards. How peasing it would be to me to see you and

him meete again and tell each other your adventures since you---I fear it is not in my power to make myself agreeable to you to day as I feel indisposed. I am siting up starse at Mr Christys, who is keeping house next doore to the monastary the schollars have one or other been thumpe, thumpe, on the pianoe all day. I cannot let my mind be on the different tunes, therefore what notes strike my sences I think affect my spirits. Speaking of music remindes of your selection Elizabeth and Mary Jane has given up practising for the best of reasons for neither has the slightest talant for it. But the piece are handsomely bound, and on the back in gold letters, is marked (Mrs Mary Sloan) your niece. I had the pleasure of hearing well played several of the tunes you requested to be lernt payed by the Miss Mortons. They will I presume lern all of them as they are much pleased with the selection. I am particularly pleased with the Louisville { ?} it the most splendid I ever heard. It was composed by a daughter of Judge Rowan. Maganetta sent a servent to me this moment to tell me to say something of her three dear little daughters to you I do not feel in the humour to say more then they are ---------------------------page torn here and words scratched thru

is among us at this time she was with me when I-----------last letter I read the part to her that related to her and Johnn she sends many good wishes to you and says you must never{ forget {?} her. Your Uncle T. thinks you will visit us when your present campaign is out. Is there the slights hope? I feel fatigued I must drop my pen, although, I wish to say much more then this sheete will holde. I write as soon again as I can, but you must write often for your letters are a greate comfort to me. Adieu for the present, and bare in mind I am your Mother and friend Bridget Sloan

Lieut. Thomas T. Sloan U.S. Marina Corps Columbus { struck out} --------------------? {struck out} Georgia

Paid by Maguire at tallisee 335 { ?}