Providence Feb 5^th/64

 

Dear Father.

                                    We are anxiously waiting to hear from you and Ernest, it seems as if you might have sent a letter to us when the steamer returned. people say it will take some for letters to go and come, as there is no regular communication between Texas and the North, but it seems as though we have had time enough to receive an answer to our letters. How do you like being so far away, is the country pleasant, and what are the prospects. are you to have much fighting, if any. Please answer all of these questions and as many more as you think I would ask. All the family are well except Frankie, he is not well just now. he has those spells very hard now, and has them quite often. I suppose he has taken cold poor little fellow, he has his share of suffering in this world. Maggie is going to New York to-morrow night. She expects to stay about six weeks. She has finished her trade and is Miss independance now. Mrs Comstock says she fits dresses better than she can, and all she wants is practice. very encourageing. / Lizzie is most through with hers, and they will be ready to commence together this spring, flourishing business those young ladies will do. I am getting along very nicely. I have 11 scholars and am to have another very soon. Louise is taking lessons and improves very much. Father, I think of applying for the situation at Grace Church. the singing will be much easier for me, as I would have nothing to sing but Solo's besides not half so far to walk. I have to be out so much now every day in the week, and I get very tired indeed. Susie Metcalf is going to leave and sing at Dr Hall's and Sarah Clapp is to sing Soprano. Mr Starkweather says he is going to leave and the choir will be changed, and I do not much care if I should leave. they are going to give Sarah $250.00 I think that is about right don't you Father. Mother has used up all the money you left her and has taken the 26 over the 200 at the Bank. we live as cheap as possible but every thing keeps going up. My money will not come in before spring and she wants to know if she shall touch / the $200. Mr Blodgett I think feels hurt because you have not written to him. he is rather sensitive about such things and you ought to write him. he has taken so much interest in us that we should notice it sometimes. he has been quite sick. I was over there this week and drew the 26 to pay the rent and I thought he was just a little cool towards me. I cannot imagine a reason. perhaps he did not feel well but he is usually so very polite that I noticed it. So when you can please write to him. How is Ernest. do he like soldier life as well as he expected, and how does he like "de darkies" tell him he is a pretty boy can't find time to write home to his sisters. How do the men behave now. we heard all about the trouble you had in New Orleans it was in the paper almost as soon as it happened. people wondered that the news came so quick, but I hope they have settled down to private life and will behave themselves as they ought. How does your uniform look did it fit you well I can imagine how splendid Capt S. must look on dress parade / but please do not lose your identity in surveying your fine looks and forget that you have a very small family at home that likes to hear particulars once in a while. Oh! how about those oranges can't you send us a few just to look at Mag says you said you were going to send your little trunk home and perhaps you would favor us with a few. What do you have to live on down south, pork and beans or is it so warm and pleasant that you are not obliged to eat such substantial food. Please inform me in your next. tell Ernest we all send our love and a kiss to him and would be very much gratified to hear from him and ask him if he has read those books Mr Blodgett gave him and if they were interesting. No news as I can hear. President Lincoln has called for more men 500,000 I believe and expects hard fighting this spring but I must stop right off I have a lesson to give and must be on my way. I will try and do better next time. All send their love and a kiss to Father and hope the time will pass quickly until he is home with us again.

 

So Good-Bye             

Your affectionate daughter

Linie

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