Catfish....April 5^th..1862.....

 

Miss Susan E Smith

                                   

Dear Cousin

                  I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines this afternoon as I have a few leisure moments. I received your letter last week but have neglected to answer it sooner. But I can tell you I was very much surprised to receive it. You I thought you had forgotten me there among your Marlborough associates. But Dear Susan please answer my letters sooner for I want to hear from you so much. But Dear Susan I want to see you a great deal worse I am so lonesome sometimes. Please come down as soon as you can. Well I must change the subject. Well Susan I am going to school to Rod and an ill piece he is too. I dont like him at all. You ought to come to school and find him out you dont know him. He whiped Coon and Phill to day about cutting his old chair. We are getting on very well in Virgil we are in Aeneis Dave is not in our class he studies nothing but Algebra and Arithmetic I suppose he is going in the Military School next year

 

We do not get along so well in Algebra for it is exceedingly hard we commenced at the first and are in equations now and you know how hard some of the sums are I am studying Davies Arithmetic and Bullions Latin Grammar. Lucinda goes to school we have joyous times at old Hofwyl at noon I can tell you To day we acted Tableaux and they are very / amusing too. Their was a surprise party at cousin John R's not very long ago There was a great many people there Most every body has the measeles or something very much like them we have had it too Jim was very sick with them. He never went to school for two weeks.

 

I was very glad indeed to hear that you recovered from the measeles without any drujury. We have not had the mumps here yet and I hope we will not have them

 

I am very sory to communicate to you that poor Henry Louis was dead he was buried last tuesday we all went to his burying he was buried at the old grave yard we explored the old ruin with much more than usual interest You know that Henry Louis was sick when you were down here his leg had been cut off. Well it broke out in his breast and was swolen a great way out he professed religion before he died and was very willing to die He selected the text for his funeral

 

Dear Susan I have a pretty little flower garden in the corner of our yard It will be very pretty when the flowers are in bloom, I made me a very pretty wreath this afternoon out of wild flowers. Do you ride horse back any now. I do sometimes I would oftener if I had any person to accompany me but I never ride beyond the limits of the evening Come down and we will have very pleasant times riding horse back. Please come Susan and tell Mary Jane to come You might come any time If you dont come soon you cant come for they will be buisy with the horses 

 

I and Rose are talking of coming up in vacation but we shall not come if you do not come. But it is growing late the beautiful twilight of Southern climes is deepening into night shades and I must retire I will finish my epistle in the morning as it will be Saturday So Good night

 

Dear Susan I will resume my occupation again to finish this letter It is a great deal longer than the one you wrote me you must write longer letters to me

Well what is the news from the war I know you know as you are a great pollitical woman. I have no especial news to inform you at present. I suppose the Yankees are about to attack Georgetown, Charlestown. We get no papers but the Marion Star and now and then a few other papers. Oh! I do wish there was someone I know of would be a great relief to no few persons But their is no prospect of its comeing to a close soon Susan Ed has volunteered in Capt Flodgen's company again. Susan Alice Rose knows that Ed wrote to you Morgan told Alice & Ed told Rose. I never have told any person and never intend to. Rose is going to put a letter in here. Give my love to Aunt Betsy Mary Jane Kate M^cKra and all tell Aunt Betsy Mother says come down soon and bring you all tell Mary Jane when I go I am going to bring her home with me Did John Wesley entirely recover before he went off Has uncle Mac come home Did Aunt Mary Ann come to see you if so you come here with her Harris is down Do please let no person see this

                                                                                                           

Your affectionately

Kate R Bethea /

 

 

Catfish S.C. April 6

 

Dear Susan

                        I wrote this letter friday night and I received your note Saturday night and was very glad to get it I will send this by Nelson if he will carry it he can leave it at Mrs Dudly and you can get it We are all well to day except Mac and he is very sick with the measeles or something he is very sick indeed

Susan you must come down with uncle Daniel Tell Aunt Betsy mother says come if she can possibly come Does Mary Jane go to school to Mrs [faded] and what for teacher is she you must answer this as soon as you get it and write a long letter too Give my love to all Tell Aunt Betsy that we're going to come down. Tell Mary Jane to write to me your cousin Kate

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