08. Nellie's Letters, July-August 1865

Timotheus' Lodge July 9th 1865, Sunday A.M.

Good morning my dear friend:

How do you find yourself this lovely day? Have you been out to take the fresh air? It's worth ones time to do that same -- yes I speak from experience. We have a good breeze here most of the time, the situation is so elevated.

I've no letter of yours to answer but every body has gone down to Church and left me "alone in my glory," though I don't feel very

glorious, indeed I'm feeling rather stupid -- suspect I celebrated too hard. I went to Portland as I think I wrote you I thought of doing, with my little sisters. I had a good chance to send them home the next day and did so, and stayed myself until Friday. Had a nice time but got very tired and have hardly got rested yet. What did you find to do?

I've been reading in "Harpers" "Washoe Revisited" and the descriptions of Carson and Virginia are not very pleasing pictures. I felt almost homesick thinking of you there alone in such a wicked place, and wished I was there to take care of you. You need not laugh. By taking care I mean using my influences to counteract the outside

influences. I know it (mine) wouldn't hurt you because I don't know much bad and it would necessarily be either good or harmless.

However you are old enough to behave pretty well and I shall try to believe that you do.

I think you told me I might flirt a little? Whether you did or not I mean to do so, because if you come home next spring as you say you are sure to do, my time is short for such pastime and I mean to improve it. There is no danger of my falling in love with any of the swains hereabouts, so your cause is just as secure. If you have any objections to make I suppose I can listen to them.

Mrs Frost's niece a Miss Furlong came here last week. So I shall

be so lonely after Kate the schoolmarm goes home as I feared I should be. "Gussy" had a cousin tea party a short time hence and we had a nice time. Wish you might have been there. Abner attempted to tease me about you but I was not teaseable that day. They seem very happy and contented.

Well Sir, in order to reach the village in season for the afternoon service I must be "marching along."

Hope a letter will come from you this week. It is a long time since your last was written. I do wish letters could come sooner. You wouldn't seem so far away.

My brothers wished to be remembered. Wash has not yet decided what he will do with himself.

Affectionately

Nellie

[postmark: NORWAY ME JUL 10]

[stamp removed]

By Steamer

Capt. Henry R. Mighels

Carson, Nevada

[in pencil; 1865]