folder 10: Correspondence, 1863-1865

As Col. Smith says the Tother Man come the evening after you left and gave satisfactory excuses indisposition with others

Take good of your health and every way prudent and cautious these uncertain times--

Mr Marshall Hairston

Martinsville Dec 4th '65

My dear Husband:

I am thankful to inform you we are all as well as when you left and geting on as well-- but I know you will be shocked and surprised to hear of the death of our nephew George (Isiam) who returned from Richmond last Wednesday feeling better than usual but complained after supper of great heaviness of the stomach commenced throwing up and from that time till yesterday morning discharged blood very copiously from the stomach and bowels. I shall attend his burial to day leaving cousin Jennie with Ann Marshall

Ruth-- notwithstanding you have been absent but one short week such melancholy things have happened an amongst our connexions makes feel badly to to be so far sepperated from you and Bettie as we can never know what a day may bring forth-- The very day you left home George Pannell put an end to himself by discharging a pistol in his mouth had been detected night before trying to drown his self no one can account for it had arranged all his business for the event-- Arrange your matters and come home as soon as possible. All join in much love--

Affectionately

A. Hairston

Tuesday night Dec 19th '65

My dear Daughter

I feel extremely anxious to hear from you-- how you are feeling so far from home we miss you a great deal and I feel so much concerned about you hope you will miss no oppertunity of leting me hear from you. What does your Father say about his sojourn there now; how long before he intends starting home No company with us since cousin Jennie left-- not even a servant in the house-- I have got up to open doors in the morning just about light every morning since you left-- Ester does her business very satisfactorily indeed but I never keep her in the house after the business of the house is finished. All three of us sleep in the chamber. The piano is in the nursery

for the convenience of practicing and to save wood and fire-making that is the only regular fire we keep-- we have fire night and morning in the chamber makes a constant work room as well as music room of the nursery for all three of us. I am having cooking enough done this week to last me all next week as I expect my work to leave me Christmas day-- Nat and Smith have been gone several days-- I have not seen your flowers for several days, the weather was so extremely cold for three days they could not be opened and now we are having so much rainy weather they have to be closely covered with plank such a long spell of bad weather I fear will gve them a sickly growth