Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, January 27, 1848

Lexington Jan 27th 1848 My dear son Your long and anxious looked for pages { ?} has come to hand at last. Its last date is Nov. 20th I am delighted to find you in such fine spirits and that you have it in your power to enjoy yourself. I was very much interested with old jurnal particularly the last six sheets Madano must be a delightfull place but I have my doubts of the nun story. You have been misinformed I think. ---it is aginst the constitution of all religious institutisions to receive a fa-member in full orders again, but no more of this for the preasent. I sit d-give you news of home. I will first say my health is better but I have to be ext---carefull in my habits. I improved my constitution much last summer by ----at night with salt and watter and in the morning I spunged my body with whisky Last winter when I was ill (which was an inflamation of the stomach) I drank brandy freely for three months, I then took brandy and warm milk from the cow in the morning before breakfast and at dinner brandy alone. After five months Doct. Whitney prescribed oil for dinnner. Bob precured some that is very fine and I have receive great benifit from it. Be not alarmed--I will not drink too much How often I have thought if I was in Brooklyn to breathe the salt air from of that p--I should be strong again. Can I ever forget those happy month I spent there? beautiful place, dear friend, how often think of you with the purest love and gratitude how exquiset is the feeling of the humin heart when associated with congenial souls. Mary will write to tomorrow and tell you of her and her Fathers trip to Misouri. She is so please you cannot think at the idea of a

----rements Paulina -------- more natural talent for music, but she has not the aplication that Ma-- ---s. All the children is sadly disappointed that you do not come home until next fall. Theodora says she wishes uncle Dore would would come along she wants to see him for nothing but to see his face to see what he looks like. She is growing tall and delicate in frame She is the image ---her mother with one exception her eyes are keen and expressive her mothers -----know are lanquishing Liza met with an accident in Christmas holady ---and Dora went to make a visit to Mr Woodses who lives at Chinn place they ---attacted by a very bad dog, he seased Liz by the leg and tore it shockinly ------ssed it. It is almost well now I forgot to speak of Paulina in the proper place. She grows faster than either of the children she is half a head taler than Mary notwithstanding her health appears not so good as the other sisters, but more sprightly and wild than either of them and perfectly amiable, her wayes remind me of her Aunt Mary. Little Anna is a splendid child she is desidedly the largest of all Roberts children she is every thing that heart could wish except her upper lip I have told you before. It will be opprated on next summer. I wrote to you in the fall expecting it to meete you in Washington. Mr Ficklin directed it to the care of the Secretary of the Navy I therein informed you of Bobs bad health. He is now well after having the chils and fever for three months I cannot say any thing to you that can interest you relative to the place as all ---- is striped of its beauty. How different when you left us it was ----the month of flowers. Mary Jane her husband and Sallys daug--visited us last May. Sarah Elizabeth is her name but she is always cauled daught. she will be a handsomer young lady than her sister Fanny she is now as tall as I am and the most slender being I ever saw of her --. Mary Jane I think cannot live long her health is so bad Mr Frost determined to have M.J. property in his hands. Robert will give it to county court ---March and wash his hands of the whole concern he has been treated badly by Frost

Christy is in bad health this winter you__________________ broken poor man I wish he was prepared to die, his family will miss him if he was to go he is sill some protection to them Josephine is now a young lady and Laura is close by, she will make a very different woman from her sister, Jo is all amability Lora dictatoral and over baring in her disposion Josephine has many admirers and has had preposials but all too young I hope she will not take a crocked stick many do that have many beaughs. We have very little news of this placeo of intrest to you I scarce kow what to say. Mexican news you can get satisfactorly in papers. I suppose you know by this time that Jim Taylor is candidate for the Presidency. He will be elected. Mr Clay is now in Washington no one knows for what He says on official business. Elizabeth Robert and myself spent an evening at Thomas Clays by invitation last August. They are very agreeable in their own house. I do assure you she is truly a charming woman He was fortunate geting her They have four interesting children I do admire their plan of e---ting their daughters at home Mrs Montell is their tutor. Miss Bell Combs is to be married tomorrow to young Mr Bruce an older bother was married three months since to Miss Norton stepdaughter to Mr A---. The present set of young people of this place is very gay there is much parting Balls concerts theatre The girls of the last two or three years go into company very young, too young, such as Woolys daughter is his second or third child, Magarettas and W. Sutton daughter and many ---I could name. Louis Posthtlewait daughter has been ingaged for near one year to a student from Cincinnatta and by the by Louis is knocked down again. He could not stand the Brewer House, but one year. He then got an appointment of Sutler for Mexico Unforunately he has no credit in Lexington he tryed in Louisville ported there kept on to New Orleans and failed again. Finely sold the appointment and returned home. He has concluded to leave this place and seak better luck elsewhere Little Divinity is at Lauras on a visit and will spend the winter in this place Mr and Mrs Bruman comes over frequently. I do not think will live in Harrodburg any longer than he can get his price for his place it is too secluded for them. They always enquire for you. Old Mr Bradford fell into a cistern --was not yet covered and was near kiling him. He is not able to support --family they are compeled to do something to do it Elen has got a small school and Isabelle is trying to get one in Harodsburge Matilda is in bad health she has diseased back.. William has some office in Washington City. James though he would try what he could do by stealing, as soon as he was detected he run of to St. Louis the very day he died strange was it not? It was near kiling his poore mother. Oh, how thankfull I am that in all affliction crosses and privations of my life I have not had

my sons. And I still hope and trust in the --------that he will make you both good christians before long. I then could die in peace. but the Lords will be done as to the time he knows best. If I am not to see this happy change I bow in submission to his decree. When you get to Rome let your heart be open to conviction, make no fals constructions, let charity for those that appear imperfect fill your heart then give yourself up to the guideance of He who can give your light. Go in the firs Church you meete then bend your knee and raise your inmost soul to Heaven breathe a fervent prear in thanks for your preservations in so many dangers and say since by thy holy sacrament of baptism, I have access to all the treasures of -----in thy church, so I beseach thee to guide me in the path which leads to ----Happiness. "Seak and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." I am glad you have promised to bring Miss Magaret a preasent, it will ---------her, she is a good girl and has been very kind to me in sickness and at all times Father McMahon will return to his flock in August we want him much. The ----of charity are building a splendid house three storeys with a basement ---the old house will be taken down. The presbyterians and Episcopalians are ------finishing very fine Churches on the same ground that strea has been much imposed this year Wooley has built a fine residence on his corner Mr March has built business houses from his large dwelling down to short street. We have had many improvements, but so much since the war. However some of our national improvements in this west are making rapid strides the telegraphical waves for instance are now in opperation to almost all the important points over the south and west. We have a line of omnibusses to Frankfort in opposition to the car. We can go to Frankfort for twenty five cents either way We have had great floods all over contry on the Ohio Kentucky and the lower part Missippi rivers an all their branches, thir has been great destruction of property, our town branch was so high that Fine Hotells seller silled before ----barel could be goten out, there was fifteen hundred dollars lost in one half hour. Robert Elizabeth David and all the children send their love to you they have told me many things to say to you but my sheet is filled and have not room Miss Magaret says you must bring me a set of teath as I have non, but she jokes you know--as I could not be filed. Doct W. insisted on me having them taken out he sayed it would inprove my health, but I cannot talk or chew good since ---ten, fifteen years older since. but no matter. Mary will write to you ----school. I fear you cannot read my blunders the children bother me with ----and nois they will be in my room at all times. Raney is now laying the rug before my fier. His mattas in one corner of my room. Theodora ex----it ther gazett particularly since I told her it had a coral necless. I shall look for the continuation of your journal with anxiety I have not heard from Mrs Reynolds since August she is in debt to me. She appears greatly distressed at the absence of her husband and sons. I must now close. Mary has writen yet the sister would not let her ---it was not composion day, but she will in a day or so. For the sake of all those that love you ----take good care of yourself. May almighty God bless my son is the prayer of your mother B. Sloan