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Tell Mary and Julia their friends are well, Armistead sends his love to his sister and says she must send him some word to let him know that she has not forgotten him. Catherine and Becky desire their love.
Haw Tree May 4th 1842 Ann [Falkner?]
[ ] you my dear Sister your letter met with a most welcome reception it had been so long a time since I received one that I would sometimes think you pretended taking us by surprise as you did before, but could not flatter myself with the hope long [ ] my dearest sister it could have been such a pleasure had it been so you have not surely abandoned all idea of coming back there is not a word of it mentioned in your letters now, but I sincerely trust we shall meet again but if not let nothing deter us my dearest sister from endeavoring to meet in a better and happier world. Martha Goode came to see us on Friday on her way to Warrenton to have her child baptised, she is very thin and week, it would make you sorry to see her, she left next day and insisted that I should go with her to the coronation. I did so and was very much pleased, it really looked beautiful The girls marched from brother Williams to the Academy They have made great improvements on our [custom?] there was a throne raised about 3 feet covered with a carpet and 3 arches extending over it all decorated with flowers. The queen and the one that put on the crown marched up the former took her seat and the other addressed her before she placed the crown on, and the queen on receiving, arose and addressed her, they performed very well. Mary White put on the crown after that the company walked around the academy they had a very handsome table set out, there, they partook of refreshments and
so closed the scene. I have felt a slight attack of rhumatism since I imprudently put on thin shoes and the ground was damp was the cause of it I suppose. Brother William has not recovered yet but is much better he frequently goes fishing so you must know that he has greatly improved, little Kemp is entirely well it was at least a fortnight before he could walk at all the snake bit him on his foot he was at the pond washing and I had just stepped on the bank at the time fortunately it was a small one, he appeared to suffer much we were told at first we did not see him until a week nearly after it happened he is going to school again We staid with Brother Henry Saturday and Sunday night last and returned home on Monday he looks quite well and I expect has given out going to Tarboro again he never has anything to say about it. I saw Miss Mary in town she said she received a letter from you on Friday she went out to Mrs. Jones on Sunday the meeting between her and Martha was not a very cordial one, the latter was quite distant she is I expect much displeased at her conduct poor creature, she has an unfortunate disp sition I did not hear where she intends living. I did not mention Martha's child at least what I thought of it. She is a sweet looking baby but not very pretty and one of the liveliest children I ever saw its mother appears to think a great deal of it of course. we shall have large congrgation for a while since the Organ has been up last Sunday was the first time and there were great many at Church I never heard one before
it is delightful music Brother Henry went with us to the Church the night before to hear them practice they have an excellent performer the music Teacher in the school is the Organist. A very melancholy occurance happened week before last Mr Jordan committed suicide, he had lost a great amount gambling, about 26 hundred dollars in a few hours I believe he was probably deranged at the time he shot himself through the head and must have died instantly it is presumed, he had become very dissapated. You would be pleased to see how well Brother Alfred is fixed they have a very good house and is quite a pretty situation Sister F. was quite cheerful when we were there and is very domestic. You may imagine how I look at this time I am sitting down in the door, it was so dark that I could not see well in the house, my eyes have never been entirely well since my illness last summer. I am not able to see at night nor have been in twelve months I do not know what can be the cause of it. William says I must tell you Howdye and that he learns his lessons right good he is now in two syllables. Sal says you must bring Shep to see her. My baby has reduced a good deal lately he appears to have a very little appetite, teething I expect is the cause he cannot walk yet sister Eliza's little boy is two months younger and can walk very well. Poor little Virginia can just step a little Mrs Allen and Virginia requested their love to you the former was complaining of Mr. C's not fulfilling his promise of writing to her Mr F desires his love to Mr C and yourself. I think my dear sister you are truly blessed in having so kind a husband it is what I thought of him before you wrote, it will ever endear him to me give my best love to him and kiss Shep for me. I consider myself also truly fortunate
in that respect and fear I am not grateful enough for it. I am very busy at this time making the childrens summer clothes I ought to feel almost ashamed after your writing about your quilts for being so indolent how do you get them quilted ? it would seem a great under taking to put them in without assistance. Write soon my dear Sister and let me know how you are pleased with your new situation you know that any thing concerning you will be interesting to me.
25 Mrs. Susan J [Cabanne?] Belleville Illinois Via Washington City
I saw sister and cousin Lucy on Saturday they were well. Martha goes to school and has the reputation of being a very good child you will think times have altered with her. Brother Toms family were well last week we see each other very seldom. Farewell my dearest Sister. and I remain as as ever Your truly aff sister Ann
Mary H. [ ] June 17, 1842 My dearest and best beloved [Luc? ]
I have just received your last letter and was so glad I both laughed and cried. I was so uneasy before I heard from you I could not collect [ideas?] sufficient to frame a letter for I always imagine some of you re sick if if I dont hear every month. I was in Warrenton to church Sunday before last and saw Ann she was like myself looking for a letter and very anxious for its arrival they [ ] [ ] well Mr. William [Plummens?] health is not so good but he is not sick. he is going to the White Sulfer springs in Virginia soon and I hope he will be restored. I went up to see [ ]. Plummer and children he keeps a very nice house and looks happier than he has since he lost his wife. Kate Davis is in a fair way to have another baby and looks very well indeed. Rose is about the same in all things. [Bet?] Field looks well but very [ ] she enquired very kindly after you and said I must give her love to you and she would be very glad to see you, Louis [ ] has another [ ] and has been at the point of death ever since its birth but I heard a few days since she was rather better, I went to the [ ] in [ ] and was very much pleased Uncle William Jones and his wife [ ] me we had a great deal of excellent preaching our minister in Warrenton is [ ] [ ]Rey and one of the best preachers I ever heard he married [ ] [ ] sister she is