Richmond       Jan       1865

 

My dear Martha,

                        I arrived safely in this place the day I left your house. It was not far from night when I arriv drove up to my brother’s house. he received me very kindly, but his wife repulsed me. She refused me a bed, and did not give me or my poor little child any thing to eat. he said to me before her, mammy look in your basket for something to eat I am so hungry. she said nothing to him, he fell asleep and slept in my lap until twelve o’clock that night. I was almost spent with fatigue. Oh! God thou only knowest what my feelings were. at last I burst out crying to give vent to my feelings. My brother told me to lie/my child on the bed and he would set up all night—I did so--his wife threw herself on the floor. I wished for morning, and when it came it was raining; it rained all day. I was compelled to stay all day. I left her house on yesterday. I am now houseless, Walter and myself walked the streets yesterday, until we both were spent with hunger and fatigue. I bought a small loaf of bread for ten dollars, we eat it on the street. I looked for employment all day in the Post Office in the writing department and every where I could think of and I can not succeed all my former friends repulsed me. Night was coming on I was on the streets with my child I begd for a night’s lodging and was rejected it was almost night I went over to Manchester poor little Walter could hardly drag along I went to a lady I formerly knew she said I might stay until morning. I am compelled to stop writing now. Jan 14^th Dear Martha I have rented a house and making arrangments for teaching and have two boarders engaged at 400 dollars per month a piece and will get more. Keep my dear little Bonnie for me take good care of her. Write to directly. I trust that God will bring me out of all my difficulties Get Mr Patman to bring my chairs, rocking chair and my all my things tell him to bring them to Richmond on Main street the house is number 136 between 12 and 13^th street if Mr Patman can not bring them ask Mr Wills of course.

 

[envelope] Miss Martha J. Britton

            Winterpock P.O.

                        Chesterfield Cty

                                    Virginia

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