Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, November 12, 1835

Lexington Nov. 12 th 1835

My dear boy Your letter of Oct. 28, arived in due time, and I was much pleased to hear from you so soon in return but what do I hear, you expect to go to sea gain. before I see you, is it posible , can it be so, will you do it? Can you deny me so greate a happiness? No, no, I am sure you will not. If you say I am unreasonable, and that it is not in your power to come, I will quiet my feelings and be resigned to the will of God. You cannot judge of my anxiety to see you, unless you were a parent therefore I excuse you all I can, but I cannot tolerate the idea that it is indiferance on your side towards me, never will I believe it. Robert has a great desire to visite you this winter if he could get some person that could be relyed on to attend to his business. I fear such an individual is not to be got and do not think it propper for him to leave home at this time in consequence of Elizabeths situation. All combined I cannot see how he could go, but notwithstanding, he speaks of it, but I presume it impractable I have had the peasure of spending the last weeke with Mrs Haggin. She, and Mrs Laughborough came to this place last monday weeke and remained one night. I could not get over going home with them. We went on the rale rode. The roaring of the car gave me a vilent head ache, but as soone as I got to Frankfort and got a cup of coffe I was relieved. Our good friend Mrs H. is very much changed since I saw her last she is as smal as me, and her spirits are at the very lowest ebb The piano is shut, the song is hushed, revelry seased, and every face express calm melancholy. The only enjoyment that Mrs H. appears to have is taulkink on the past{ lives, loves?}; strange, it is, that they become pleasures to our memory. Patsy will start home,(on read river I think it is), on next sunday. She sent her love to you, and told me to remind you of a great many of yours and her mischi ef and { ?} in your childhood. but I think it unnecessary as I do believe they are recorded on memorys tablet, folded and deposited in the deepest recess of your heart. Mrs Haggin

also presents you her highest regard and good feeling. and Mrs. L last, but not least, sends you her love, and says she is pleased to learn from what I told her that you were not offended with her for being so unceremonious as to receive you in her sick chamber. She sayes when you sent your name, she was embarrassed for a moment, as she wished to see you and she feared it would not be respe ctfull to ask you in her sleeping room, and she, in her disabill Sarah is fat and harty, She is living in the country. I saw her for a short time, She is very pleasant and cleaver. I have received your journal of a weeke. {?} Fisher was in this place one weeke before I got it, he did not present it himself, but got an acquanitance to call and see me. I do not know the individual that I am under obligation to, however, I pray he will be rewarded for his kin dress. Your Uncle is well, and has just returned from Owington, He is done holding court this year. He will start for Matisonville in a few days to dispose of the land there. a Mr Woodson of that place was here a short time since. He says the Doc. family is in good health. 22 Today is sunday and it is snowing, in consequence of which I cannot go to church so I have said my preays at home and now I sit me down to finish my letter I am now in good health, and happy, yes Theodore, I believe I never was more happy I live at my ease, come and go as I please, hear, nor have no quarreling; have my comforts attended to, and to crown all I can go to Mass every morning at six an hour that will not interfear with the days business, and on sunday we have church at the usual time. The Rev Mr McGill preaches generaly. He is a most splendid speaker, and will through more light on catholicity then any we have had. It is only four or five months since his ordanation. He is past your age. I suppose you have seen L. Combs in N.Y. on his way to Boston. He will return----home the same way. I wish you would see him, and send the flower seede you say you got in France. You aske me to tell you something of Mary Harrison, She is married to Mr Simpson, and living in Louisville. He is a Captin of a {steam?} boat. They have been married two years, I am told she is in bad health. They tell me she is still the good hearted Mary. {Jilson} has made a fortune in Viburge and is married. And your old friend Tom Bradford is still caged I am told he was six month that he never was on the pavement and then some of the young men pushed him out as he was standing in the doore. A few evenings since severl of the young ladies of the mona stry (I presume you know we have a nunery in this place, where young ladies are educated) visited me when the candles came in and were placed on the mantlepeace, your picture hung theire and was noticed insta ntly by one of the girls. She went up to it and asked whos it was. I told her, she than was abashed at her hasty admiration, but turned it off by saying she thought it was the Rev. Mr Mcgill. She is very hans om, and is very much admired by the gentlemen. One of Elizabeths sister played a march that I do ad mire very much, it is Washingtons, Trenton march. I never hear it that you are not before me in vision. My minds eye feast on you. Mary plays every day often, because it gives me peasure, as she says

T have you ever made any inquiry after Thomas Sloan your Fathers brother? I am told that James G. Trother will be in new York soon, I am not sure if he has left this place or not. Mrs Loughborough tels me that you are under the impresion that your relation do not love you. as you love them. My dear child you do them injustice, indeed you do. I will say, and do believe most firmly that your Uncle Thomas love you more than any mortal living. I know you will laugh at the idea, but it is a fact nevertheless. I do not say he thinks you perfect or exemplery. I have never heard him speak on that subject, but I have every reason to believe that you are dear to him. You are the pride of your Aunts, and Grandmother. Last evening Mr McGill, Elizabeth, Bob and myself was siting around our social fire side chating, I do wish you had seen Robert at one time whilst Mr G.and C and myself was ingaged in conversation, I happened to turn my eyes, round towards your brother, he sat with his side at the fire, and his arm cross the back of E. chair, his head was streached over his other sholder gazing at your likeness he remained in that position a long time and appeard unconcious of our presents. He, at leanth droped his head in his bosom with a sigh and remained in deepe though for some time. Do write soon. I am always hungary for a letter. Peace be with you. Your mother in truth B. Sloan

Dear, Brother, I received your affectionate letter some time since and feel quite ashamed of my self, for not writing to you before. I have thought of it more than a hundred times, I hope you are not { ?} at me, --Thears is no one on earth I would give more to see than you I love my husband and all that is kin to him, do visite us. I will try to make you spend your time pleasent if ite in my power so. F told Mama to tell you I had two or three girls pict{ures} for you, I do wish you would come out hear and get a wife

Mary Jane say you must take care how you talk of her pet calf and she will show you in a year who he is.

Lieut. Thomas T. Sloan U. S. Marina Corps New York City