Handsboro July 20^th 1864

           

My dearest Irwin

                                    Do not wonder that I am still here after having written that I would leave for Mobile yesterday. Yes sir we are here yet and no probability of getting off soon. some wagoners just from that delightful [?] say no travellers can return after once entering its portals and of course the escort we were to have had backed out. how fickle you men are! tis really refreshing to think that I'm no better off than the rest of our Handsboro girls all tied to or promised to one of this same undecided specie but if you don't get your matches when you take one of us into consideration then I'll give up. Maybe for propriety's sake you will be glad we did not get off when you learn our mode of conveyance but I assure you the delay is not very pleasant to Jennie since I have to cry nearly all the time with neuralgia. my face is swollen very much & eyes are nearly closed. We were to have gone in Dr. Lyon's mule-team wagon in company with Dr. McCallen but now no one knows how much longer I'll have to suffer. A few more weeks & I'll be a fit subject for the lunatic asylum. Now Irwin darling don't be too anxious & tell me to quit procrastinating I can't be benefited by any one but the dentist & if I can't get to him of course will have to bear the pain with as much forbearance as possible. Irwin you are the "darlingest" (fellow) (as you call yourself) in the world ten thousand & one kisses for your charming letter bearing date 10^th July how much I would like a nice long ride by your side but I think that one on the 10^th was decidedly the shortest we ever took. let's see if a sail from Ocean Springs to Handsboro this time won't answer every purpose for I am not able to take the ride. one similar to the last we took I mean. Shall I sing the song of "The Three Little Kittens" for your especial benefit since the wind has died away or must I whistle for the truant. but let him linger we'll not have the pleasure of being on the waters all night if we plead too earnestly. (my eyes pain very much I must stop) July 21^st I'm going to get on the deck of this boat now & put my shawl down for a seat as 'tis warm enough to dispense with covering. "Well sir" Mr White has gone to snoreing I must wake him up. cook oo! cook r-roo! now dearest don't think / you are going to be permitted to sleep I have a nice little straw here from the marsh, stop now! you can't get this one for I have determined to enjoy myself at some one's expense & why not yours. "Be quiet and let you sleep"! no sir I shall not I'll call Fannie if you won't let me manage you. Now Irwin we'll be very still & let all the rest go to sleep & we can have a pleasant chat; There? from sounds below the canvass I judge they are all far off in "sleepy hollow, while we are finding the "North Star". now you have found! "Why don't I talk"? why don't you give me time to stop talking). Yes I was writing to you on that sultry Sabbath evening & remember very well how near melting we all were but if I remember rightly it rained late in the evening. even while I write the rain is drizzling preparatory to a rainy day we have plenty of warm & rainy weather now. I did not go to church & the Rev. Mr. Graves did not preach. there was no sermon in the morning but Dr. McCallen delivered one to the colored brethren in the afternoon. I have missed four sabbaths since you were here to accompany me. I went there the first & had to be brought home almost fainting, the next was spent in O.S. & the third here with "Sis" who did not feel well enough to go but prayers for your welfare, dearest, are offered daily, yes hourly, for I never think of you without adding, God grant that the loved one may return unharmed. ("Sis" is up & for fear of being thought negligent I will have to stop Good bye. breakfast is most ready how I wish I would find you in the parlor when I descend.) Here we are at F[?]'s see how beautiful the shading is, clouds are hurrying over the face of the moon like armies speeding to battle making quite a romantic scene of that spot of interest to voyagers. I wonder how many have remained in sight of the old homestead over night & whether they enjoyed themselves as well as we do. (another interruption! had to go up street for some buttons for the dress maker) don't you wonder I write at all, surely your letters are not more uncommon than mine if once fairly started some one wants this and another that of course no one can get it but Jennie & letters have to be thrown one side to be taken again & perhaps thrown down in about five minutes. What shall I do with the tobacco pouch? wait till I get to Mobile or send it by mail? 'tis nothing extra & I know you will be very much disappointed. your idea of my taste & neatness will receive quite a shock but I have tried to / prepare you for the worst never having made anything of the kind or indeed of any other pattern, model, material, or for any other use & knew nothing at all about it & never saw but one. I'm going to send it in tomorrow's mail. now dont be too badly frightened to finish our sail. You know I have warned you many times of its unsuitable shape, but truthfully speaking I did not know how to make any better. will you accept it 'tis freighted with kisses & borne on the wings of love I had hoped to send the photograph in it & maybe that would have made it acceptable but I know you will value the work for the givers sake. Bless you dearest I know well enough you will appreciate my attempt & excuse the first failure with a little advice from you I might perhaps have done much better. I have just had my blue dress taken to pieces & the sleeves cut a la moulton and trimmed with white buttons. this was done for your especial accommodation & I of course am much better satisfied. the yellow trimming too was taken off the shoulders & buttons put on instead. yes, & four inches had to be taken out of the belt. now you have some idea how it is changed & when I wear it again in your company you need not think it a new one. "Well sir" are you thinking of "nothing" to day or rather night as we are sailing you said you were going to kiss me when next we met why dont you fulfil your promise? "Waiting to see whether I would volunteer the kiss or not"? now let me kiss you shall it be through the mustaches or may I put that one side? either I think would be pleasure enough. now I'll remove the perspiration from my lips and give you plenty of "sweet" ones kiss the blank for I will do the same       

                      

I almost obliterated the last word of that sentence with my kiss but that only makes it more apparent that my lips came in actual contact with the paper. Oh! for one more blissful night on the steps how I would enjoy it. wouldn't I tickle your lips with this straw to my hearts content. but day is beginning to dawn & I see a ripple on the waters. cook oo! Mr. Gostenhoffer wake up lets hoist the sail & be off. we'll leave the sleepy ones behind to finish their naps. heig ho! that roused them all why we were just making up our minds to leave you. here comes Eussis! now for a delightful sail, "dont be frightened"? I don't intend to I have too much confidence in the captain or commander of our little craft. look out! Aunt Mary, the water is coming over your side of the boat. see that old porpoise! how delightfully cool it must be to have in this sea of glory. I envy you your pleasure old fellow for I have not dared to bathe for more than a week. Oh! how beautiful, exquisitely beautiful! is a morn on the water / when "Purple & bright, bursts on the billows the flushing of light". especially when we have spent the night on the waves & begin to long for something more substantial than poetry & romance. "Brother I'm hungry let's get to Handsboro as soon as possible". we're most there, let fly the gibb, down with the sail! here we are! all right you may resist me this morning if you please, as I've no desire to be ducked or dubbed Miss Independence again. never mind, I shall not give you cause to address me in that manner any more. particularly about our plans for the future. You would like to have me the very personification of that desirable quality in woman by saying what my husband will or will not do. no sir-ee you'll find yourself woefully mistaken. don't think that because I manage myself tolerably well now that I'll not be enraptured when delivered of the burden. I dont mean by this that I will lose my individuality of character, that is too thoroughly blended with irony in my composition to be easily done away with. however you need not fear but that I will make one of the most submissive, meekest & sourest wives in the world. But I believe they are all out of the boat & ready to proceed come let's file to the rear Aunt Mary you & Sis take good care of Fannie as she is Lieut's especial friend. come buster you will be too late for Mrs. Mayer's breakfast & of course must partake of our humble fare. now sir you know where your room is walk up & beautify everything is ready and I'll be with you in the parlor before the rest are near the completion of their toilets. How fresh you look, just as though you had slept all night I hope you feel half as well for I am sorely tempted to take a seat on your lap. have you any objection well then I'll sit down. What have you got to do to day, wait on Genl. Walthall? I hope he will spare you for a few minutes, as I'm very desirous of a tete-a-tete with you this evening on our front steps. So you think "Sis" jealous of me & you? I used to think she was but she now says she is not, and treats me with as much love as I would desire at present I hope though to win a much larger share of her heart than at present could be bestowed. May we look for you home when this fight is over if you escape unharmed I hope you will have recovered from the effects of so delightful companionship i.e. the Itch. it must be terrible this warm weather. I'll not say excuse the paper, it hurts my eyes less than the white. Good bye my darling, God watch over you in the hour of danger & ward off the fatal bullet. love unlimited & kisses unnumbered from Your devoted Jennie.

 

P.S. In comparing notes I find that I did attend church on the 10^th twas last Sunday I did not. (Aunt & Laura send much love) Dr. McCallen preached.

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