Alexandria  Va   Jan  22d  1865

 

My Dear Wife

 

                                    It is Sunday forenoon and I have no letters today from you or Jule, not have news of interest to write, but still I will send you my love and greetings. I have been looking in our morning papers and for most of news in it. I have been reading a wife’s extiesance in living in Washington. I will send you the paper that you may read it, as I have no doubt it tells a true story for many a sad heart. It is true at least as far as it shows that changes from dimestic quiet to public bustle are not often improvements in dimestic happiness. You may ask as you read this why I can suggested to you to leave your own quiet home in Athens and come here.  Alexandria is not Washington nor yet is it like any home you have yet lived in. My first idea of suggesting a residence of our family here was to keep our boys safe from the army, by making this layed primily residence till the war was over and _____that we might be more together as a family, but as I now think I can keep the boys safe without it, I much rather keep up our home in Athens if you are content, and this will do the best he can, as I know he will.

 

                        Bert I think it is for better you Bert and me to reisance here.  We are pleasantly situated in good employment, and Bert has many advantages here for improvement and is in no danger of loosing his good habits.  But there is one thing I shall ask of you, and that is to visit us here. I desire it an yens _____ and an _____ _____ Whenever it is the most convenient for you to come I will meet you in Baltimore on the _____t of the ____ there, so you would have not the least trouble in cuming alone.  You could spruce for days in a few weeks here if you could leave home so long, with much pleasure and satisfaction not only to you but to us.  The expense would be more than paid by the pleasure such a trip would give you as long as you live. So make up your mind if Bert and I stay here that you are cuming to see us.

 

                       I wrote you yesterday that it was snowing and ______. The ground today and every thing outdoors is covered about 1 to 3 ins slush with ice.  With you I think it has been snow _____ for I hear that at the north there is plenty of snow.

 

                                    As my letters to you were for the children too, I send to them as well as you my affectionate regards.

            Your Husband S. Hayden.

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