| Notes |
- (from Patsy Bradley)pbrad@texband.net
Sherry, here is the letter Roxie wrote Jefferson. I just forwarded it from
Becki's e-mail to me.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Becki Snow"
To:
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 12:05 AM
Subject: Roxa's 1872 Letter
> Wallisville Tx July 21st, 1872
>
> My Dear Cousin Jeff,
>
> I am quite overcome with joy at the receipt of your
> note which came on the 17th. I have looked so
> anxiously for a letter; but it didn't come. I am glad
> you got home without a great deal of trouble; and
> very, very glad you found your wife and baby well. O
> Jeff! if you don't bring my cousin Alice when you come
> again, you had better not come within reach of my
> broomstick. ( I daresay you know, by this time, that a
> broomstick in a woman's hand is no mean weapon.)
>
> Remember that, when you make your preparations for
> coming.
>
> How much I should like to get a nice long letter from
> you. It seems really odd to be writing to you. If
> you continue to let your communications come so "few
> and so far between," I shall forget who my
> correspondent is, and send you a learned discourse on
> the Philosophy of Sleep*, or the Science of the
> Heavenly Bodies**, or some other subject equally
> applicable to your case. If your horrid, sociable
> friends (decided bores, they are, individually and
> collectively, who know I do want to hear from you,
> they would stay away from your cosey(sic) office, for
> a day at least, so you could write to me. I know you
> are too busy to have much time for friendly
> correspondence, and it is best to resign oneself to
> the inevitable, but it is hard. I miss those good
> sociable "volumes". I feel as if I had lost a friend.
>
> I must not forget to tell you something funny. Mifs***
> Phillippe Basfifa(sp?) wishes me to become assistant
> at the next term of school if she gets the position of
> principle. She has the promise if she wishes it. When
> she mentioned it as the best thing I could do, I very
> demurely replied that it was excellent; and I would be
> glad if I found nothing better to do. It is,
> undoubtedly, a capital plan. By the end of the
> session, I should be so frightfully dignified and
> learned; in fact, with such a discipline I should
> develope into a "bluestocking" of the deepest dye.
> The fates preserve me from such a fate.
>
> Well, I envy Blackshear his "talk, talk, talking" with
> you. I should like such an opportunity myself. I was
> so disappointed to find that you could not stay with
> us at all. Don't treat us so shabbily next time, or
> you will get a scolding. I have seen a member of each
> of the neglected families, and delivered the
> photographs with satisfactory apologies for your
> hurry. All were disappointed, by none were
> displeased. We have proved to be a very reasonable set
> of people. Laura and Susan received the pictures, and
> were greatly pleased to find that you remembered their
> respective parents.
>
> I really didn't know that Alice and Mifs*** Sudie
> expected me to come with you. I thought Alice was
> coming, until you got here, so there was a double
> disappointment. Be sure to bring her when you come,
> and that nice little sister-in-law of yours. I was
> quite captivated by her picture and should be very
> glad to see her. If she doesn't marry too soon,
> persuade her to come. I did not expect you to bring
> the Astronomical chart this time, but when it does
> come, I shall value it as much for its' being a token
> of your friendly remembrance of me, as for the
> knowledge it may impart.
>
> Everybody appears pleased with the Diploma. Camelia
> wishes very much to get a copy of the famous
> composition. So do aunt Tabitha and ma, so please
> send it to me, if the little affair has not lost
> itself. It is utterly impossible for one to get
> another like it. I have tried so often. I was rather
> surprised at the request from Carmelia, I had not
> expected her to show so much interest in the "budding
> genius". Please don't forget it; for she often asks
> about it.
>
> The grass worms have been doing a bad business for the
> cotton, but they are gone now, or the chickens
> disposed of them. The cotton is growing finally, but
> cotton worms are expected by most of the farmers. If
> they don't come there will be a large quantity raised
> here. Peaches are abundant, and some of Bud's are
> excelled by none in this part of the country.
>
> Jeff, just as a personal and lasting favor to me,
> won't you destroy the two or three absurdly ridiculous
> letters I wrote to you? One on the "sympathetic
> subject" and the others I don't remember, so you may
> select them according to you own judgment. I could
> not help being foolish in those days, but I had the
> good sense to not inflict it on everybody. I knew of
> no one whose good nature equalled yours, and that is
> why my letters to you were just simply ridiculous. I
> knew it at the time, but I had to say foolish things
> to somebody, else I would not have lived. My senses
> are gradually returning, and I think I shall be able
> to write accordingly. Did you know I'm getting old?
> I am eighteen, and as sorry as I can be. I shall soon
> be an old woman.
>
> Pray accept my congratulations; your paper is quite a
> success. It is a dozen times more interesting than it
> used to be. Mr. Billie's (sp?) paper was good. but
> yours is better. I think you certainly succeed as an
> editor; and display some talent as a poet, if I may
> judge from the specimen I saw on the title page some
> time since.
>
> Ma wishes me to say she is glad to be remembered in
> your letter, and a number of things beside, but I take
> a short way out of the difficulty by saying she echoes
> the sentiments contained in the first half-page. I
> don't like the trouble of repeating so much. She
> concludes with a great deal of love to you and your
> wife.
>
> Bud wants me to remind you of your promise to write to
> him, and to select the prettiest girl of your
> acquaintance for him, as he is certainly coming this
> fall.
>
> Such a funny joke my dear, there's an old widower who
> comes here quite often quite often of late. He wants
> to get married worse than anybody ever did. He says
> he wouldn't marry an old woman,and it's preposterous
> to suppose that he is coming to see me, so in spite of
> his declaration I insist on calling him her**** beau.
> It really teases her, for he is the ugliest man in
> America. I don't suppose he comes with serious
> intentions, but it's funny to tease ma.
>
> Bob knew you had not time to visit him, but he and his
> wife wished very much to see you. Betty thinks you
> ought to fulfill a promise made to years ago, of
> giving her your picture. She and Will send their love
> to you and your wife.
>
> Now my letter is long enough, so I will stop. Write
> to me as soon as you can.
>
> Your really affectionate cousin,
> Roxa Hartwell
>
> *"The Philosophy of Sleep" by Robert MacNish, 1834 A
> metaphysical treatise on Victorian dream theory and
> brain physiology
> **"The Science of the Heavenly Bodies" - astronomy
> ***perhaps using the archaic writing style for 's' or
> 't'
> ****her mother
>
|
1854 - Aft 1880 (> 27 years)
