Pikeville Tenn.
Jan. 7, 1862

My dear husband,

It is now late to begin to write and I will only send you a few lines this time. First we all have dreadful colds now. The warm damp weather last week was very unfavorable to us. I am so hoarse I can scarcely speak above a whisper and the children are all barking and sneezing by turns. Jo has been taking some medicine to act on his liver and is better than he was. 

Erasmus started to Nashville Sunday. Will is doing nothing, as usual. We had a wedding in our town Sunday evening and a Shivarie (I don't know how to spell it) last night. Bob Thompson and Miss Lillyann Panter were married. Uncle Greeley went home last Saturday. Cousin Sam has bought him a mountain place on Walden's Ridge about six miles from here and he will move over in a month or two. I was in hopes I would get a letter from you to day; but was disappointed. I would have written to you by last mail but John Greer was here. He was on his way back from James'. He expects to move over in a month from now. 

I am anxious for father to come and do something with these boys for they are doing nothing for themselves or any one else. I felt almost like taking the "horrors" after you left. They tease the children so much and make Nat. a great deal harder to manage. I long for the time when you can come home and we can get our family to ourselves again. I hope I am not selfish in my feelings, but I could govern the children so much better. Sometimes I act to studying about the probabilities of your not returning and it almost drives me mad. How could I live without you now? I see no way for me to ever be happy again in this life. I love to think there is a home for us, if we do right, where there will never be any more separation. Let us constantly pray that we and all our children may inherit that home. That is the home I crave for my children. Let what else come. O that they may be saved at last. I hope to hear from you soon in haste.

Your loving wife

M.M. Hill


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan