Page 1

Townesville, Granville Co., N.C.
Feby 15th, 1858.

My Dear Miss Henrietta,
Your kind letter of the 14th of December last was duly rec'd and should have been replied to before but owning to the irregularity of my professional engagements I am not able at all times to answer letters which I greatly desire to do and particularly to yours, breathing of purity, sinlessness, and (I regret to know it) of grief.
Your letter carries me back my dear Miss Henrietta to other scenes and other days, when "Life was young and Hope was in its Spring," before I commenced the battle of life when everything seemed full of beauty and promise and my soul was unscarred by sin. Alas those days are past to return no more but from them Memory returns with recollec-tions so sad so hopeless that it fits me to be a sympathizer with you. My heart felt a throb of pain when I read those words "When my heart was broke" Ah how many