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"Plantation"
14 June 1863
My Dear Wife,
Quiet
prevails here at last, I mean about the dwelling house and yard, I am entirely alone. Caulk has gone for Julia. It is a great relief to be rid of the many who were so noisy and unruly. I returned from Lake City
yesterday and slept alone here last night and expect to do so again tonight and
indeed hope I don't muse. It makes me feel more like attending to my thinking,
planning, writing, etc. I could not
somehow do it while there was so much turmoil and confusion. True all the houses over the branch are
occupied, but they are quiet so far as I know, and give me comparatively little
trouble. I think now that I shall visit Jacksonville next week
and perhaps several times soon. We are
in the midst of another rail road excitement caused by a move headed by Gov.
Milton to take up iron from the roads in East Florida
and transfer it to roads in Middle Florida and Georgia. We are trying our best to prevent it, I
passed several days in Gainesville and in Lake City,
in both which places I met with Mr. Yulee who was very polite and treated me as
I thought with marked attention and kindness, though it may be his way towards
all his old acquaintances. It was full
twenty years since we had met. I sold
him our little brass cannon for $40. I
have sold the old dining room sofa for $30.
The broken marble top center table for $20. One dining table with end
tables for $22.50. I find that I
get along better sometimes by using spectacles.
Will you laugh at me darling? Can
I help it? At Lake City
a lady sent Mr. Jeffries a glazed card with something written upon it that he
could not read for dimness even with his specs on. Dr. Hartridge
failed to make it out. They handed it to
me and I could only make out a little of it and all of it seemed quite dim. I put on my specs and behold every letter was
perfectly plain. They were certainly
helps to read in that instance. I have
sometimes thought that my pen was out of order or the ink unusually pale or the
light very dim. I put on my specs and lo
all is quite plain at the right focus.
Remember I am old now speak it softly. I hope that more wisdom will come with age. One thing I know, my love for my dear wife
waxes warmer all the time, and the happiness with which her unparalleled love
and devotion bless me becomes greater every year. I am as homesick now as I ever was and it is
all because she is there to bless me. I
fear that I shall not be able to divide up the lands of this estate now, and
that I shall have to come again to do that.
To get things better regulated and leave Caulk in charge with full authority
to do whatever may be necessary for preservation according to circumstances while
I may be away, etc, etc, is about as much as I can accomplish now without
staying too long away from my fountain of love and happiness. How glad would I be if you were here with me
now, how we would enjoy this quietude. Mary
cooks me something, Charley brings it over in a basket, arranges it on a little
table, I eat, he carries it away and then my pipe and my reflections all alone alone are my only companions. Yesterday Jerome and I went to pick berries and
in a short time from high bushes obtained nearly two quarts all blue. They are plenty now. I have had some plumbs preserved for you and
Julia. S???
(?) is coming next week when I get the houses cleaned to stay a few days with
me. She
sends much love to you and Mary. I am
well pleased with my horse for the buggy.
He is gentle, a fast rider, and fat.
But the long heavy journey to Tampa
will diminish his flesh some, unless I travel slowly which I fear I cannot do
when going home to my darling Kate. I am
still making plans to get you some flour but it seems that the prospect is not
flattering. It is still high too in Lake City,
$70 pr bbl. I hope that Morris has paid
you the $100.
Sunday
night. I have had another quiet day only
a few pleasant visitors, ladies and gentlemen, and I wished for my dearest love
every moment of the time, and now I am all alone and going to bed alone -
alone. I have received a nice letter
from Mary E. and intend to write her, give my love to her and tell her to try
her best every day to improve her handwriting, to make every letter careful and
nice.
Monday, all well.
Your dear letter of the 12 just reached me. The train has gone. I shall ride out to mail this and if there is any news
note it to you.
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