Julia to cousin Martha H Clark Nov 20 1856
Mount Airy Va November the 20 1856
My Dear cousin Martha
I fear you have come to the conclusion
that I have forgotten you by my long delay I believe
nearly three months have expired since I received
your kind and very interesting letter of the 28
August. I would have answered it immediately
but had no news of any importance and besides
was very busy a great portion of the time therefore
I hope you will excuse my long silence we are all
well as usual and hope this letter may find you
all enjoying the same blessing. Ma was very sick
sometime after I received your letter but as soon
as the weather turned cold she began to mend
There has not been a great deal of sickness in this
neighbourhood but I tell there has been a great
deal in Riceville and near about there I expect
that you have heard of the death of old Mr M–––
as he and four of his children died in September
I think that is the time if I am not mistaken
they were all willing to die. Dr Thompson said he
never had experienced such cases they had the
Bowel disease and it turned to the Typhoid fever
I could not enumerate the deaths that have –––
Riceville during the later part of the summer I
My Dear cousin Martha
I fear you have come to the conclusion
that I have forgotten you by my long delay I believe
nearly three months have expired since I received
your kind and very interesting letter of the 28
August. I would have answered it immediately
but had no news of any importance and besides
was very busy a great portion of the time therefore
I hope you will excuse my long silence we are all
well as usual and hope this letter may find you
all enjoying the same blessing. Ma was very sick
sometime after I received your letter but as soon
as the weather turned cold she began to mend
There has not been a great deal of sickness in this
neighbourhood but I tell there has been a great
deal in Riceville and near about there I expect
that you have heard of the death of old Mr M–––
as he and four of his children died in September
I think that is the time if I am not mistaken
they were all willing to die. Dr Thompson said he
never had experienced such cases they had the
Bowel disease and it turned to the Typhoid fever
I could not enumerate the deaths that have –––
Riceville during the later part of the summer I
feel thankful that we have been spared while so many
have died
Aunt Peggy went home yesterday she had been
staying with me three weeks so I feel quite lone
some to day. I would be delighted if you were
here with me what a social chat we would
have but alas you are so very up there in
Patrick. Cousin Martha have you declined ever coming
to see us I hope not you ought to I know it
would be an advantage to you and by the by you
would see so great many of the Straight Stone
gentlemen and some of your eldren relations Aunt
Sallie Hunt and most of her children live in
this neighbourhood. They have been to see us. I like
them very much. Aunt Sellie is very old and feeble.
She sends for me sometimes we go with her to preach-
ing as she lives tolerable near Straight Stone Church.
I went to
Riceville The second Sabbath October to The Baptist
protracted meeting and stayed over at grand Pas.
They carried on the meeting a week but did not
have much excitement. Had quite as ––– time
––– & I had a great many ––– us to
Church so we did not mind the rain much. I
wish you had been there with us. I got acquainted
with the two ––– gentlement as you even
saw Mr Oaks and Robert Pritchette’s brother
have died
Aunt Peggy went home yesterday she had been
staying with me three weeks so I feel quite lone
some to day. I would be delighted if you were
here with me what a social chat we would
have but alas you are so very up there in
Patrick. Cousin Martha have you declined ever coming
to see us I hope not you ought to I know it
would be an advantage to you and by the by you
would see so great many of the Straight Stone
gentlemen and some of your eldren relations Aunt
Sallie Hunt and most of her children live in
this neighbourhood. They have been to see us. I like
them very much. Aunt Sellie is very old and feeble.
She sends for me sometimes we go with her to preach-
ing as she lives tolerable near Straight Stone Church.
I went to
Riceville The second Sabbath October to The Baptist
protracted meeting and stayed over at grand Pas.
They carried on the meeting a week but did not
have much excitement. Had quite as ––– time
––– & I had a great many ––– us to
Church so we did not mind the rain much. I
wish you had been there with us. I got acquainted
with the two ––– gentlement as you even
saw Mr Oaks and Robert Pritchette’s brother
Mr Logan Pritchette I come in an ––– of falling in
love with him. he told some body that I guess the prettiest
girl he ever saw but I dont begin to believe
that. I know you will say I ought not to write
such nonsense to you but really news is so scarce
I have to write most anything comes to hand. I
thought it very nice been last Sunday I know if
you were to see him you would certainly
fall in love with him his eyes are as black
as a coal. I declare he is the most complete beauty
I ever saw ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
I may never see him again he lives some distance
from here. Cousin Martha what is the
reason you dont write often I would be glad
to get a letter from you every week now perhaps
if you are not sick you are pining for your
wedding and dont intent to let me know
anything about it. I hope however you will not
be cruel as to not send me a ticket. Christmas
will soon be here and I have not made
any preparations for it. Where do you expect
to spend your Christmas. I was going to
Riceville the first of Christmas and the
later part. I shall be at home ––– is coming
over Sunday to stay with me two weeks and
I am going with her to stay till Christmas
and perhaps I will those nice –––
love with him. he told some body that I guess the prettiest
girl he ever saw but I dont begin to believe
that. I know you will say I ought not to write
such nonsense to you but really news is so scarce
I have to write most anything comes to hand. I
thought it very nice been last Sunday I know if
you were to see him you would certainly
fall in love with him his eyes are as black
as a coal. I declare he is the most complete beauty
I ever saw ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
I may never see him again he lives some distance
from here. Cousin Martha what is the
reason you dont write often I would be glad
to get a letter from you every week now perhaps
if you are not sick you are pining for your
wedding and dont intent to let me know
anything about it. I hope however you will not
be cruel as to not send me a ticket. Christmas
will soon be here and I have not made
any preparations for it. Where do you expect
to spend your Christmas. I was going to
Riceville the first of Christmas and the
later part. I shall be at home ––– is coming
over Sunday to stay with me two weeks and
I am going with her to stay till Christmas
and perhaps I will those nice –––
you will say what has become of the Mr J J.
they are getting on finely. They visit me as usual
an are as smart as ever. You know when we
first moved I told you that there were four of them surely
I could let you have one know what would
they say if they were to see this letter. My
pen is nearly worn out as you will see by
the writing you must excuse bad writing.
I have written all I can think of as present
you must write soon giving me all the
news of the family. ––– me in much love to
you all farewell from your devoted
Cousin Julia
they are getting on finely. They visit me as usual
an are as smart as ever. You know when we
first moved I told you that there were four of them surely
I could let you have one know what would
they say if they were to see this letter. My
pen is nearly worn out as you will see by
the writing you must excuse bad writing.
I have written all I can think of as present
you must write soon giving me all the
news of the family. ––– me in much love to
you all farewell from your devoted
Cousin Julia