20

Wednesday - Jany 25th [1854]

My dear Husband

O! I am afraid you will think here is
another piece of a letter, what can Lucy want now.- Well, I'll
tell you - there was no mail from Raleigh yesteray & therefore
we received no letter, directing us what to do with Mary- She
as well as I was opposed to her going from the depot to Warrenton
in the hack alone with a negro driver - so we concluded not to
send her to-day- Kemp & I came to the deliberate conclusion yesterday
that our best course with her, would be this- Let her stay
at home this whole session- let her study Latin & Geometry with
him & Richard- French, Criticism & something else with Sue-
then send her to Mr. Smedes, till the end of the next year - this
is the worst place in the world for a girl to turn out very young
she, will learn more in the end & know little better how to
behave herself, than if she stopped school very young - she is
considered a mere child here now & will not be plagued with
beaux - I have seen the bad effects on Sue - of a young lady
turned out before she was old enough-
If I can, I shall send the book - & some papers that I wish
to you read - & determine which you prefer - the Church
man belongs to Miss Sally - take care of it & bring it back
I wish I could send the lamp - if you do not like to return
it it would be better to send it to [Root?], or some one that
the leak may be stopped - It cannot be done here - I am afraid
that you have been so troubled with lamps, you will wish that
you had never heard of one -- We did not put ice in the house
yesterday- the firm has applied to me for Toney, wagon & horses