folder 11: January–May 1852

her agony, her despair, at seeing her favorite child, her Son-in-law and beloved grand-children, in danger or perhaps suffering!

Since Monday I say I have been in this dreadful suspense, many times a day going into the telegraph office to seek for information & yet fearing almost to get it— after breakfast this morning the boy of the office came to my room and handed me the reply whe with trembling hand and heart almost ceasing to beat I opened it! Thank God! 'Your Sister & family were saved' struck my glance! I have yet fearful doubts of the affairs at home— nothing was said of your dear husband— but I cannot think that he was injured, I will not till I learn more— but the distress of dear Mother & you all still makes me far from happy.

Thursday evening [Jan- Feb. 1852]

My dearly beloved child

I was glad when I found your good husband had consented to your remaining one week longer in S_h As much as I miss you my child I am not so selfish as to desire you to debar yourself of one more short weeks freedom from the cares of home duties on my account. I wish I could say we were all well — I must plead my own violent cold as some excuse for bad writing & the blunders I may make — Isabel is better of her cold than when I took charge of her — but Willie was much oppressed last night — I think I shall be obliged to give him a small doce of oil tonight. These colds are general their being so is I suppose the reason I have come in for a share I actually coughed out one of the glasses of my spec's last night & it took me a long while to fix it back again — I am glad to say poor Alie Boyd is better than when I last wrote — but poor little Herbert! I can do nothing that will heal his terrible burns. Dr Wilson looked at one of them yesterday & recommended "Turners Cerate" I will repeat this in my mem the Dr says a burn from fire is far worse than from hot liquids — Of course I am still deprived of her the services of Clementine. The little Demeres have colds they have had several doces of Physic — I do not know how you will manage with them at Hamilton — Their Aunts are devoted to them — I believe Rebecca intends writing to you by Wm They will go to the Wyllys tomorrow to remain some days

I am glad to find that with the exception of Lizzie & little Matty — the rest saved (some of them) a part or all their wardrobe Mrs Fraser & Selina, saved every thing — Fanny only lost one dress & her Sunday bonnet. Susan saved her under clothes but lost her dress's — Rebecca saved some thing of every thing belonging to her wardrobe. Mr & Mrs J Demere & 5 children lost no clothing — Poor Lizzie lost every thing she had

& as Mattys clothes were kept with hers— all of course were burnt

Rebecca tells me Mrs Roswell King sent her mother $100— & that Mr J. H. C. has given Margaret $200. He has also had the generosity to give Rebecca the old piano at Cannon's Point her piano was saved but injured &c &c— Mrs Brown, the Wyllys Miss Carter Are all helping the girls sew. I can do nothing for them— as the only two servants I have are kept busy waiting on them. I like the few articles of dry goods you sent me very well— but the shoes I am obliged to return— they are so hard they would ruin my feet— The Wyllys recommend me to try india rubbers if you think I had best get india rubbers do so instead of soft leather— Willie & Bobs shoes fit very well— William thinks I had best keep them all. Sam & Alie beg you to get those ear rings changed— The one pair for Such as Maria wears— the other pair small rings no larger than yours. I have also to return the spectacles— they are so heavy & rough— I am willing to go as high as $ One dollar a pair— that is the price I gave some years ago for light steel frame spectacles

Now I am in dispair about my canaries— Surely I am an unlucky woman. & I have so set my heart on getting at least 4 more; I will now turn to the Daguerreotypes— you are not done justice to— but I will keep the one you send me— if you will have one taken better for your Father— I agree to pay for it— I suppose you could not have King taken— You must put on a more animated expression— & they have enlarged your features so much— those likeness's would be sooner recognised as Mrs Hall than Mrs Wm A Couper— Be sure & have a new one taken with a more cheerful expression for your Father— William came over for a short time today, he has a bad cold like ourselves—

I hope you have been able to write to Butler. I give William my 2 letters which I beg he will put into the office as soon as he reaches Savannah. I do not know whether the California Mail will close at 10 on Saturday or at 10 on Sunday. do see that they are put into the office in time. I hope my precious Child that you may get back safe & in health - and that I may be able to give you back your sweet treasures no worse for being left with me. Kiss your dear children for me. To my dear Ira & Pheone say all that is affectionate & kind - my regards to Miss Jane & kind love to dear Sarah Bourke I cannot yet answer her last affectionate letter. In fact my eyes are getting worse & worse. Dear little Willie is seated on a chair by me - he says he is sorry he was asleep when his pa was here - & begs I will send his Father word that he is now awake & wants to see him - Bob is the sweetest of all sweet children - he sends kisses to all of you & says his toy broke the very first time she let it fall.

I hope you will not come home sick. To tell you the truth I scarcely know what I am writing—

God! bless you my darling child your devoted mother— A.M. King

Pray do not forget my paper - ink - wafers - pens & envelopes or my 10 lbs canary seed - The gloves you sent are not worth the freight - much less 50 cents—

Mrs W. Audley Couper Savannah Georgia

[right side of page torn off - incomplete on each line]

I have had a sweet letter from [Mrs] Hall— she expresses herself more towards [me] as an affectionate child of my [own] would than as an acquaintance [of] 3 days standing— She begs to be [affection] ately remembered to you & kind [regards] Wm—