Dubuque, Feb'y 9^th 1864

Tuesday Afternoon

 

My Own Darling George:—

                                    I received yours of Jan'y 24^th and 25^th last Saturday. they gave me more encouragement than any letters that you have written before. I am so happy in the thought of seeing my dear husband again—and yet it seems like a great while for me to wait, three or four weeks yet. I had a letter from mr Mortimer yesterday. he said that he had not heard from you for more than a month. He wished to know if you thought of coming home this winter or spring, and where he could find me, for he / expected to be in Dubuque sometime in Feb'y and would like to call and see me. I was very much surprised at receiving a letter from him. I went last evening to hear the Rev. A. A. E. Taylor of this city lecture. his subject was the campaign of the "[?] first", It was very interesting indeed. the evening before we went to see the "Bohemian glass blowers" do not think dear that I am out all the time for I do not go everywhere that I am invited I had a letter from Sparta last Sunday, not from home, our folks were all well however. preserve Bens letter darling until you come home I should like to see it. I fear he will think that you are not going to answer but Gilbert has probably told him that you are south / mother says that she shall make Burlington a visit in the spring, and wished me to accompany her. I shall not close this letter until I see whether I get one today or not. I do not feel much like writing today dear and you will pardon me if I do not write much of a letter. I am ashamed darling to send you such a miserable one after receiving such a dear good long one from you last Saturday My darling I have been waiting for several days for to get a letter from you before I should this, but none has come yet this has been an awful long week to me dear not hearing from you. I am awful tired, you will not wonder love when I tell you that I was out until after three oclock this morning. yesterday about ten / they had a dispatch saying that the 9^th Iowa would be here at 12 last night. the patriotic ladies forth with resolved to give them a reception, of course it was some to do to get up a supper for four hundred, but it must be done and it was done, and a better supper could no where be found than those poor tired soldiers sat to about two oclock last night or rather this morning. I tell you they did the oyster soup justice Edgar's brother was among them he and his wife sisters husband came home with us and staid the rest of the night it was four before we got to bed. it is a delightful day the streets are lined with soldiers a great many of them are indulging in sleigh riding one of them told me last night just about dark was the first snow he had seen they are right from Alabama here /

 

            It is Sunday my dear one and I have had no letter from you yet I scarcely know whether to send this or not mrs Bartlett tries to persuade me that you are on your way home, and this is the reason that I have had no letter. Oh! could I only believe this I never spent such a week in all my life as the past and trust that I never shall again why my darling I cant any thing like describe my feelings to you it does seem to me that I cannot live much longer without you I am sick and tired of every person and thing here. If I had the means I do believe that I would start tomorrow for Sparta I do not know but this is wrong in me for every one is very kind indeed, but I feel as though I did not want to see / any one until I can see you we are having delightful weather dear I am almost discouraged a week ago yesterday when I got those letters I was so encouraged and thought that I should have other in a few days saying that you would certainly be home in two or three weeks but here I am with no letter and of course do not know whether to think that you are coming right away or not. how many many times I have wished that I had gone with you but I will try to hope that you are surely coming soon

 

I had made up my mind to expect you certainly week after this but do not know what to do now but earnestly pray the good Lord to protect and preserve my darling husband to return to me soon with true affection,

                                   

I am ever your wife    Annie

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