Pikeville July 24, 1859

My Dear wife

Another lonely sunday is past, and in order to send you a word by next mail I write to night. I have no news to write. The burden of my communication is that I want to see you and the children. O, I miss your society so much. But we must submit to that which we cannot help. I know you would not be satisfied away from you Mother, even if it would be right. I know it is your duty to stay with her and do what you can for her. O, I shall never forget how self sacrificing she has been to you and to me. Remember how long she stayed from her home with us at Sparta. How she lost sleep of nights, with Eddie. I know we shall never repay her kindness. Then when I speak of wanting to see you I would not be understood as desiring you to come home under the present circumstances. I am only stating facts, or truths, - - that I love my family dearly. But you have not failed to discover that long since. I need not repeat it, but "from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh". 

I am sorrow that the mails are so uncertain. I very often miss getting letters from you. You said you would try to get one in every other day. If you knew how bad I felt when I missed a mail you would write. It seems so long till another mail. I reckon I am foolish. I write to you every mail. It is all I can do. I would much prefer being with you. How I would like to be with you to night. But I hope the Lord may spare us all and at the proper time we shall all be again safe at home.

We have at last had a little rain, though not much. It looks like (it's) raining still. I hope it may thoroughly wet the ground to night.

The cholera is killing the hogs in town fast. I think it is probable mine are dead - - they are not up to night. If they are not dead now they will die soon I reckon. Esq. Tullop has lost 200 head since you left. I don't care much if they all die. We can eat bread and potatoes. Our potatoes look finely. Mr. Rogers says they are the prettiest he has seen.

Monday week our circuit court begins. I must examine into my cases this week. My practice is increasing more than I expected. Tell Erasmus if his mother is well enough to come down to court.

I must stop as this is all the paper I have at hand. I hope you will remember to write often to your fond husband.

W.J. Hill

Tell Eddie that his pa has been thinking about him and wants to see him. Tell Lou his pa has not got any one to sleep with him. Kiss Ella & Ida.

Love to all

W.J.H


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan