Mrs. Elgin's. St. Louis

June 5^th 1863.

 

            My Dear little "Pet"

                                                I received "Cousin" Gennies note this morning, informing me of the fact that you were not better. Oh! I had hoped you were nearly well by this time. you wrote so encouragingly in your last. But yet you have gained something; you haven't had any more of those "abominable" chills. that's a satisfaction anyhow then what's the matter with you can't you tell the "Dr" (me) like a good little girl so that he can do something for you? Besides your cough is most well—so "Cousin" Gennie tells me and that is a great satisfaction to me to know that. /

 

Well Lizzie here I am yet and am likely to be here for some time to come. But I dont like the idea of being confined to this house all the time. yet it is a "heap" better than being in prison "aint" it?—So I am just a going to get my parole extended to the city and county—city any how—so as I can get to see your dear sweet face again and then I dont care if they never send me off. So you must hurry and get well enough to come down in the parlor so that I can get to see you. Bless your dear little heart it is ever a pleasure to me to think of it.

 

Lizzie, I rec^d a letter the other day from your Cousin Theo Lewis he wished me to give his love to you. He is now at his / Grandfathers near Glasgow studying Law. He says he is applying himself very closely—doesen't even take time to go to see the young ladies—I should like so much to see Theo do well I think he is a young man of fine mind and will if he propperly applies himself be an ornament to his profession and family. Lelia H. and Delle were to see me yester afternoon. Lelia was still weighing her "one-hundred and fifty" but Delle poor child looks rather the "worse for the wear." I suppose Cousin Gennie will come out again and stay with you as soon as little Shelton gets well—poor little fellow—the D^r would take it right hard if he had to lose him. I believe little "Birdie" has the measles too hasn't she? /

 

I for-got to tell you in my note the other—in answer to your question that I have not cut off my moustache yet as you thought in your dreams.

 

You said your dream was a pleasant one and yet I must have looked a good deal like that picture you had of me and you seemed to dislike that so much that I should have thought the very sight of me would have scared away all pleasant dreams.

 

Oh! Lizzie I should love so dearly to see you now and chat with you a little while. It would indeed be a pleasant task for me to chase those "wrinkles of pain and sadness" from off your fair brow and speak to you all the words of encouragement and kindness that a loving heart could dictate. I think you need some one to rouse you up a little. How about that Homeopath Dr. I was talking to you of? I delivered your message to Delle yesterday and she said she thought she would go out that evening Well I must close I have been very buisy the last 2 days writing my "Thesis" and I have not quite got it finished yet. I shall write again soon I feel as though I could write all the time as I cant get to see you.

 

Love to all. Hope this will find you better

                                                                                    Good bye pro tempore. J—

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