May 14^th /64

 

Dear Mary,

                        You were mistaken in thinking that I was offended with you for offering to pay me board I was not offended I was grieved I became warmly attached to you while you staid with me and it grieved me deeply to think that you supposed that I sheltered and cared for you for mercinary motives. I should have been offended—perhaps—(for these are hard times) if a persons to whom I was indifferent had offered me money, but I certainly should not have been distressed about it. Now, Mary if you had written that you thought that I must have been put much trouble and expense and expense in takeing care of you, / and that you knew my affairs were not in a prosperous condition, and that you could not feel satisfied if you did not offer to remunerate me, and that Col Neal urged it, and added some other long rigamarole usual in such cases, why I should have understood you at once, and the matter would have ended by my answering that you were no expense to me, and that we were not apt to think our friends troubles and visitors &c. But after making out your account of the money in my hands you very bluntly told me to keep it to pay your board. Besides I was prepared for something unpleasant before I opened your letter. Fannie told me as soon as she came that I ought not to have written to you that I was sorry that Col Neal brought her home; that you and he were much / hurt about it. And the fates would have it, to make matters worse, enclosed were your lines to D^r Townsend thanking him “for his disinterested kindness which was so rarely met with in these times of trial.” But now, after we have both had our cry out and explained every thing let every thing disagreeable be forgotten, and let us be good friends again. There is one thing however I am troubled about. I am afraid you will need your money before I will be able to collect the new issue to pay you. You must be candid with me and let me know if you need any money for any particular purpose. I am sorely sorry that, owing to my defective Memory, I forgot to send for your corset in time to send it to you. Willie Garvas (poor / dear, good, careless Willie) has lost Ellen’s [?] and they would have been sent when Tom went up

 

My health remains the same I feel the same debility every night and morning John Teplan is here with his wife She is a genteel well educated amiable lady.

 

I have no news for you. Give my love to Ellen and the children. I wish I could go to see them but I am not strong enough to ride so far. My trip to D^r Saffold’s fatigued me greatly. I do not know when I shall leave home for the summer I have a great many arrangements to make before I can well leave home. I am doing all I can to hurry matters. Write to me soon. Remember me to Col Neal when you write. Kiss the baby for us all. All send love to you and Ellen and family. Yours truly          E W Septer

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