Sunday, July 3, 1859.
Pikeville Tenn.

Mrs. Mary M. Hill 

Beloved wife

I do not think it is wrong for me to write to you to-day although it is sunday. I cannot help thinking about you, and it is no worse to write to you. I hope it is no crime to be strongly attached to ones wife and children, for if it is, I think I am of all men the most vile. I miss you and the children very much to day. It has been so seldom that you have gone from home lately that home does not seem like home to me without you. It is perhaps better that you should occasionally be about, so that I may be able to appreciate your worth. I now can see how much I am indebted to you, and to your society for most of the pleasures I see in life. We have often spoken of the pleasures derived from each others society but we can, perhaps, come nearer estimating the depths of these enjoyments when we are separated. O there is no happiness on earth half so sweet - - half so pure as domestic happiness! It seems to me that without you life would indeed be a "weary journey".

I, perhaps, am not more strongly attached to you than many another man is to his wife. Indeed I am of opinion from observation and experience, that the relation of husband and wife is the most intimate of which we have any knowledge. Our Creator so designed it. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh" are the words of Him who instituted the marriage relation. It is not to be wondered at, then that I should feel to day that something is wanting to make me contented and happy. But I am more than willing to submit to whatever loneliness your abscence may produce, since I know it is your duty to be with your afflicted mother. We should not murmur, even though we should not have access to a constant stream of enjoyment. Such is not to be expected in this state. We should rather be grateful that we can hope, that after a few weeks we shall enjoy a reunion at home with our children, and that our separation is not final.

I shall await tuesday's mail with much anxiety. Besides the anxiety I feel about your mother, I am uneasy about Edwin. I know you will write to me unless you get sick. I wish I could be with you of nights to help take care of the children. They will weary you I know.

I got home the day after I left Knoxville before dark. We stayed with Uncle John H. the first night. My expenses home were the enormous sum of 10 cts. I found things at home going on right, though Billy had not ploughed as much as I expected he would. He lost some time from a sore on his foot, which affected the glands in his groin. It will take him most of this week to finish laying by. My corn looks well. A portion of it is as pretty as I ever saw. My only fears are of any weather, it being very thick - - too thick unless seasonable. Cousin Robt. Mulkey has the prettiest corn I ever saw, I think. We have had no rain in my field since you went away. It had rained a great deal between here and Knoxville almost every day.

Mr. Boyers has gone to Spencer to be at the commencement, but primarily to try to get the money on the notes we got from father, I think. Mr Rogers will perhaps be at Knoxville soon though I never heard him say he would, certainly. They had considerable company on the day of the show, I understand, for dinner. They were mostly ladies of Mr. Rogers kin. Mary Jane cooked for them and made about $2.50 washing for the showmen the same day. The show did not give satisfaction. Mr. Moffit says he made money by keeping them.

Old Mrs. Bridgman is sick though I have never heard what ails her. But I have written enough. May God bless you and ours.

Wm. J. Hill


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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