31

To Mrs. Thomas Butler King

Savannah Jan. 21st 1856

My beloved Mother
I am glad that you returned my last letter to me. Ever since I sent it I have been sorry that i had done so, but I felt mortified at the tone of your previous pistle and wrote hastily. I am aware of the embarrassed state of your finances and will endeavour to render them as little more so as necessity will permit me. You ask me to tell you positively how much I expect you to give me- i do not expect you to give me one cent more than you can afford, while paying attention to the wants and necessities of each and every other one of the family. In the country one has no need for money, there is no way of spending it, in a city it is different-what appears to be superflous extravagances- in the former becomes as it were a positive matter of necessity in the latter.