September 8, 1865 pg 4

and gloom. Time has softened my
woe and in a manner brought resignation,
but it will never entirely heal the
wound left in my childish heart.

You know how free of care and pain
it was when you wished me joy on
my sixteenth birthday, and yet one short
year made of the careless child a
thoughtful woman. Yes -- vastly different
is the history of our lives, but I
believe mine has known as much of
pain as yours, despite it's seeming
calmness. With all my careless and
nonsensical talk, I never forget for a
moment that I have the care of two
little sisters and that I am responsible
for their future character. Harry
it troubles me to decide whether I
I could conscientiously go away and
leave those little ones. You know I
have been their sister-mother for nearly
four years, and beside their being
attached to me in an unusual
degree, I feel that they are just at
the age when they need my care
the most. -- I can't think it out, so
I trust it to time as I have so many