Pikeville, Tenn.
Jan 19, 1862

My beloved husband,

This lonely Sunday night I will spend in writing. All the children are asleep but Eddie. He sits up latest and rises earliest. I have been nursing nearly all day. The baby is nearly as cross as ever. I have read a little with him in my arms and have thought of you a great deal. I know you would like to be here to night. Three months of your time has nearly drawn out its weary length; leaving nine long ones to come ere you can again return to us to go no more, as I hope. We certainly will have peace before then. At least I hope so. 

Part of last week we have had some disturbance in our town. I never wanted you at home more in my life. Flin moved to town last friday - - friday night. The boys gave the most uncouth "Shivaree" I ever heard. It was realy annoying. They went round and round town several times always stopping and increasing their energies at Flins. They bursted open his door - - he was holding it - - this enraged him and he came out to drive them off. They caught him, held him and wrung their bells and blowed their horns all around his head and in his wife's face. He was running and swearing in a most frightful manner. I was out in the yard with Will and Nat listening. I never heard or saw such outrageous proceedings. I felt like going and helping Flin. When they left there they came running up this way. Sam Frazier poked his bell over the fence and wrung it in my face, then they opened the gate and black and white marched round the house waking and alarming the children. If I had been a man I would have fought, but they would not have come here if you had been here. This is what made me so mad. Panters and such low mugginses with a parcil of nigers to come and insult defenseless women, and cause such a general fuss in our usualy quiet village is too much. Is there no way to make them quit it? They have "run the thing into the ground' since Bob Thompson was married, and the way they are going will come in and blow and wring over our beds soon. I wish you not to fail to give me some advise on the subject for I can't put up with it any longer. I addressed a note to Mr. Frazier telling him I wanted him to take some measures to keep his sons and negroes out of my yard with their instruments of noise - - that I hoped parental authority and publick opinion would have sufficient bearing on this affair to put it down. The citizens generaly are disgusted and provoked. Flin says he will indict them; but he can get no one to do it for him. I guess I wish they could be made to repent of it. They did it with such an air. I understand they have another one in contemplation. But I will write no more about that. 

Thos. Brown has never done anything more about those notes. I have never seen Major Terry since you left. The cholera has made wild havoc among the hogs around here, but none of ours have as yet had it. Some boys said two of Mr. Roger's pigs had it but that was friday and they still continue to come up and eat. They all look very bad, but I do not believe they have cholera. I have fed them nearly a half a keg of tar, as it is said to be the best preventative. I give all of them some every day. I have the Sow with the young pigs in the shed between Mr. Rogers' stable and crib and will not let her out to prevent her having an oportunity of taking it. I do the best I can in these things. If I err it is through ignorance.

The children are all well and learning some. Ida is complaining of rheumatism again this winter. If I had time to devote to the children they would learn fast now.

I have been thinking considerably of the admonition you gave me in your letter I received last night in regard to any affection for you. I acknowledge I fear I do sometimes think more of the creature than the Creator. This is true in reference both to you and the children. I try to guard against it for I know that the Lord sometimes afflicts us by taking the dearest objects in life from us and I believe He does this to admonish us that where our treasure is there our hearts should be also. It seems to me that an affliction of this kind would almost be greater than I could bear but the Lord would temper the wind to the sharn lumb. I pray that I may not be thus afflicted. We have been so happy in the past, we shurely have been blessed, and we will continue to be if we look to the right source. If we do have idols they are each other and our children. It was no Eden or Utopia in which we placed ourselves. We have never talked of vine trellised cottages or of bliss unalloyed. Yet we have always had a bright and happy future, the star of which was love: and when this shines steadily though there are storms beneath and clouds above, it is not all darkness. If a mysterious Providence has in store for our chastening any bitter cup, I pray that he may prepare us and enable us to say "Whame the Lord loveth he chasteneth" and "scourgeth every ean whame he receiveth." I could chose affliction in this life for me and my family if it is the only road to a purer abode where we may ever live together. Let us make it the great object of our life to prepare ourselves and our children for eternity. I know you pray for us often. Be punctual in writing to your

loving wife

Mary


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

Archivists:
Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan