Alexandria Va.

April 23^d 1865

 

Mary in what manner can I express my Symphatly Regards and sad feellings to you more than I all ready have I think pen cannot speak to you the tone that I could if I sat by "Your Side" and as you well know my designs & interest which I have in you it will be usless to atempt any farther remarks by way of black and white for letters and maile does not always reach its destany and I dont wish to expose that which would be usless to Us and stand at large in Publick. now Mary the Onley One of the Female Sex that I ever learned to love Trust to me when you will not others / and you will ever find me as your Guardian One who will live and abide with you One who will never cease to care for you and one that never will see you harmed. if it had done any good I could have coverd my face with tears by the effect of reading your last letter dated Apr. 11 and headed at Cipley. twas a letter of deep interest and written by one that I trust is of the best of disiplin and character and more than all of that one that I am sensible is Virtou's and true to her Lover and as I have told you hereto-fore with the loe tone of my own Voyce if I had ever thought you to be any thing different I should have made it known to you in person. but I know you cannot deceive me one that loves you dearly. I will now say that I dont want you to work whether at home or abroad when you'r unable to do house work and I think you / had better stay at home this summer and see if you cant doctor you'r self up a little and get to be a little stronger. you can work enoughf at home to pay for you'r board and if you want any thing in shape of clothes I will send you means to pay for them. Mary I'll do it because I think I can trust in you but I know of no other of the Fair Sex that I would do it by. I have recieved no pay since I came here but expect to in 2 weeks or less time perhaps. and now here is my oppinion about it altho I do not advise you thinking I have full controll over you for I dont expect I have but you go home and stay this summer if you want to and ar able go to school if not stay at home and do light work and docter yourself as well as possible before you get broke down intirley. and I will provide a home for you where you can live with / one who will care for you as much & I will atempt to say more than you'r parents altho their kind and love you. But you well know how I am now situated but think if I have good luck I may stand in better circumstances another summer from now if I have good luck this summer I shall finish payeing for my farm and get a little something to build a house with then things will come round in a little better shape but now is the time to enjoy the comforts of life where we are both young but I have a little mind and sence as you some times say and now as I have written this letter to you and came right down to the point on several things I hope you will look at it with deep interest and see what will be for our wellfare and Rember I adise you as I would even my sister whos wellfare I couldent help but care for. if you want some money write how much and soon as we draw pay I will send it now dont be backward in so doing for any thing you kneed I will assist you in getting. and of course we will be prudent as long as we are situated as we are and if we live to see happy hours to gather I will reward you with something suitable for it to take place in can you understand my meaning. I will now close hoping you may look at this in the right light and remember and bear in mind another such a friend you canot find, altho self friend dont go a great ways. give your Mother in partickular my kind regards and tell her I am one who cares for her darling Mary. Also give regards to all the rest and keep my hugs and the kisses for your Darling Self.

With much respect I hope to ever be your's.

 

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I got your last Dated 11 to day. One more thing I would say if I could see you but will not resk it in a letter

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