8

Chapel Hill February 16th 1844

My Dear Husband,

Just one week has passed since you left
us, & although it has seemed to me to be as long as two ought to
be, I have nevertheless got along pretty well. Monday morning, I
hoped & believed that you were safe in Union County, out of the
cold & mud.& I felt a change in my spirits & since which time
the weather has been so pleasant that I have actually been out
visiting. The children have been uncommonly lively, the workmen
seem so busy, that I cannot be lonesome in the day & at night the
little boys sit up until I compel them to go to bed, & although I
anticipated that I should suffer from fear, I am thankful I can
say that I have not felt the first symptom of it. I have employed
myself part of the time in writing letters. I wrote a long letter
to S. Cabanne on Saturday also one to Carey - and another on Monday
to Laura. I am still indebted, for yesterday I got two from Warrenton,
one from Bro. W. the other from Bro. Kemp. I expect you
are a little surprized, I assure you, I was very much so myself---
I was the more pleased too, as his letter very unlike Bros. W's was
quite a long one, & tho he did not touch upon the subject that
I have been so concerned about, yet it contained assurances of a
very great improvement with regard to his health. The Doctor
has discontinued the use of Medicine & has substituted Porter, which
is not only more agreeable to the palate, but is so to his system- for
as Bro W- says he seemed to improve after the first dose. Bro K
wrote very much as he talks - in a joking -lively way throughout [?]
that he could be made to think as he ought! I shall answer his letter