folder 17: January 1856

{To Mrs. [Thomas Butler King]}

Savannah January 9^th 1856

My Beloved Mother

The old [Chuck?] came in on Thursday morning and gave me your dear & welcome letters also all you so kindly sent by her- I cannot tell how full of grief my heart has been that my own dear Father has been so ill on Mother Trouble Trouble all round May God have Mercy on us all I do so long to see my beloved Father I hope each day that he will come- may a Mercifull God in Mercy restore him to us

My dearest Husband is still improving & I trust & pray he may have no more bad turns - But my poor baby I know not what to say about my precious Toosee - all her simptoms are better but the swelling - she is very much swolen - Oh I hopes[now she has in a measure recovered her digestion

and can eat soft boiled rice- & the rice from her chicken soup - that as she now can take Iron that in a short time the swelling will go down - but oh my heart smiles to see her - she is very good has a great appetite - sleeps better & is gaining strength but is swolen till the legs are larger than Johneys- now when it is bright & warm she can go out a little - but no cloths she has can get on her so she wears nothing but her Flanel gown & the double gowns you made her with an old wadded cloak & big shawl that have had to get for her- with her feet in double socks & flannel round them - also a flannel band & shirt She talks of all of you - Oh Mother I want you so much - it is cruel in Mrs Fraser to keep delaying so- do write and tell her you must come & see me - Oh I want you all I am sad, sad, - God pity me 6 long weeks has my heart been

[m?ing] wearing with this [anxcity?] & grief- & now I hear that my [adoared?] Father has been so ill - god have pity on me

[William] attended to your letters - the [Wilaha?] get in today & I get your two & dear [Floras] one letter at 1 oclock -

So I left my darling with [Susan] & [Becky?] & can [douse?] & did the best I could -

I hope the things will phase you my beloved Mother - the [B?hant?] is the only piece I could get - I will charge [dady Peter] to take every care of your things he can - our dear [Butler] has not yet come he may come [lowght?] - my own Mother you must pardon all [o?ssious] in my letters for I hold my poor baby in my arms nearly all the time [she?] [p?es} it to any thing else - & then the house must [hair?] some can - [Susan] is as [?] as she can be and helps me all in [? powr?]

[right margin] [9Jan 1856]

54 but get there is much no one can do but myself - [Chushan?] makes herself most usefull & valuable always willing, always chearfull never idle [Tell? ?] she is a comfort to me -

she is very [anxious?] [to write?] her mother but knows no one [to write?] but me & I never have time & my poor back [actus?] all the time.

[William] & [John] are much annoyed at the [Everglads?] passing - [Capt C-] says that the warf was over loaded with cotton & as he had no room for even another bale he stoped and said [?] he promises never again to neglect that warf - &will very gladly bring & carry with care every thing for you [?] [John] will [?k] charge him about your freight - If dear [B] doest come I will either give the [?] if the trunck to [dady Peter] or put it in the small [bunk?] that has the [tooles?] & is nailedup - I have not sent dear [? branson?] for I hope you will soon come & [usest?] & take it back

with you [John] has charge of his office things - I have not found any quilt or sheets [her?] of dear [f?]- if he did not take them home let me know & I will try and make [Mrs Loussa?] account for them -

[Mr Foolley] is again [albr?] to or out but looks very [tadly?] - our dear Cousin is not well herself I have not seen her today - as I could not [leve?] [Yousee] all morning and only ran off to get your things this evening.

I got the best English work bands that I could - there are handsome for 1-37 & 1-50 a [land?] but I did not know how much to [give?] so I get these at $1-a [band?] & they are the only ones I could get 4 in the same patterns - so I had to take 2 [a?] if they are not right return them & I will get others - Oh when am I to see any of you again ? - [?] sent [Mr ?] - dispatch as soon as the boat got in he opened your letter to see how you [a?] & sent it off [at once?] - as I said before the [Wilaha] only got her today