folder 18: February 1856

room she is extreamly careful & prudent and I now have every hope and confidance that she will be able to return home as she [& I?] says [we?] [?} [wishs?]- God has been very merciful - [?] was, [William] & I both think [very? non? Phency?] before the Measels- her cough is a great deal better- I am so full of gratitude that she is better - I know my own Mother how dreary it must be for you - And often & often sigh to see & cheer you- I hope you will get [write?] this letters from my dear Father as [Lord] got [our?] today - he was quite well and with [Churpilly?]- I of coarse have not seen his letter - but this is what [Lord] tels me - [Lord] dear boy is quite well - I see very little of him. as he [?] with the girls every day - I saw both the other dear girls this evening - [G] is quite well- [Floyd]- not so well from [?] but they are both going to write to you & will tell you all about themselves I hope [on?] this you have got the

boy- I was going to send my parcel by the [Tilalea?]- but the Girls said that [Mrs Hopkins] was going in the [Planter] on Wesdnesday- & had promised to take case of it for them - so I sent my work and bread to go with them mutton & oranges - I do hope you have got it - it would be too bad for all to be spoiled - I am sorry [Christian] is so sick- and realy will thank you very much if you will have [?ll?] pants made for me as he is much in want of them- the other things can wait - My dear Cousin [A]- sends you much affectionate love and says she would write to you & assure you of her opinion that dear [Appy] was doing well but that she is herself half sick- and has 5 sick negros- two realy ill- so she is much worried - she looks badly & has a very bad cold - I hope that the measels will not spread among the negros -

Thank God my dear little ones are all in health - little [Tonqins?] cold is better and dear [William]s cough is much better - [Anna] & [Teller?] are still

happy at their school -- I [write?] you dearest Mother & [Thanked?] you for your [h?d a?p?] to send on [Old Charlses] yours Also to say that [nor?] would only give the Island [?aces]- you must not pay him dear Mother [William] will do that - & I will let you know when I want them

There is a Circus in town & [?] has prom =ised to take the children [Teller] has [?] is highly pleased- Oh Mother I do want to see you so, so, much - but I cannot [liv?] my kind [chorted?] husband- he lives only for us- & knows no happiness but wish usI hope he will love Savannah in May and take me back to you before going on his trip- I have been trying to [return?] some of the calls I have had but have only returned 6 in all, all my time & thoughts are taken up in going to see dear [Appy]- Oh if you could only come on if but for a few days - I so want to see you so much - Kiss my beloved [B] & [T] for me All here for[ward?] in love to all of you all & the little ones in many warm kisses - May God

10^th Feb 1856

My dearly beloved Child

I am very sorry the weather was so unfa =vorable on Thursday & Friday- if it rained in Savannah as it did here - the streets would be in no condition for you to walk out even on Saturday. I had hoped in your next letter you would have been able to give me your opinion of my poor [Appy]s person -al appearance- she has never before had so much fever- my poor little one! how I do long to see her. God! grant she may have no more put backs & may soon again be well. She cannot be taken too much care of - she is so apt to take cold & every one goes straight to her chest. [Florence] wrote to me on the 8^th and assures me her sister is gaining strength. I am truly grateful to all who have been kind to my poor little girl. I know [Clementine] to be very kind hearted I owe her much for her constant attention to [Appy]. I am sorry [Appy] & herself have had so sad a visit of it. That yourself & family [Geo] [T] & [Lord] can yet say "we are about." is a great comfort to me. Oh [Tootee] what a wearing & tearing of the heart is this suspense as regards the life & safety of my husband & children another mail & again no further intelligence from your poor Father - the papers say [Austin] is more than usually sickly This long silence makes me fear he is ill & not able to write I can only pray I may be mistaken. I can only hope God! will be merciful to us & spare the life of the best of husbands & father. As much as I want to hear from you all I now dread Mail days - fearing some bad symtom in [Appy]- some [evil?] to the others. I am distressed for your precious children - Would it not be safer to bring them here? No mumps here & I do not think their chance of getting measles would be as great as in Savannah. I do not urge it as I would wish - These diseases all go lighter with children than adults - still I dread

hearing they are all down & I poor me, not with you. I heard from [Malley] he was well on the 1^st- but not from [Tip]. He promised to write to me on every week. God! grant he may not be sick. It is a pity I was not prepared to receive your work by the Planter. I expected a parcel from you & sent over to Hail the [Welaka?] on her return it was dark when she past [Hamilton] & did not stop. [Prince] told [Alfred] the Planter had left a box. which he saw on the wharf in the rain & had put it away for who ever it belonged to. This was on Friday night & we heard of it on Saturday - [Butler] called at [Hamilton] on his way from [Newfield] & found it was for me as the top was made up of two boards & the box broken in the bargain, of course every thing was wet, but make yourself easy my love nothing of yours injured - I dried them in my room. The bread / thanks to you / I put into the oven. The mutton sent me by you or the girls I put to roast as it was smilling a little pourish. & we had it today for dinner - Rather underdone but [Butler] says it will be nice broiled tomorrow & we will have it for break fast. [Flora] sent a dozen oranges - so the box contained quite a treat bread, mutton, oranges, thanks to all to whom we are indebted. I am truly sorry I did not get the work on Friday or until so late on Saturday. The pants I will set [Bhina?] & [Maria] at on Monday - if I can induce them to exert themselves they may be done in time to go on in the [S^t Johns]. It will be well to inquire for them - the rest of the work I will get done as soon as possible. [Christiann] is very much better but it will be well not to make her sew too soon you know one of the miserable effects of measles