Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, September 7, 1835

Lexington Sep 7th 1835

My dear son I have looked in vain for the last four weeks to find a letter from you. You do not know how unpleasant I feele at your silence, or more properly speaking, it makes me unhappy, I fear your are sick or some misfortune hapened you. I have never heard if you have arived safe in New York. Pray do not fail to let me hear from you as soon as posible. You are my last thoughts at night, and my first in the morning

The day before yesterday, I left your Uncles house as a place of residence. I am living with your Brother permenantly. I know this news will astonish you-- and you will say why has it taken place. I will for your satisfaction, and for fear you should form an erroneous opinion I will give you a true statement of the case-- In the first place, Fanny lived in the house on limestone streete, which lesened the income of the family, and added to this, the judge was compeled to support her family or let her suffer. Robert foun it inconvenient to live in the contery, determined to move to town he found it difficult to get a house, so he preposed to your Uncle to let him have the house that your An nt was in, and let her take my place at his house and me to reside with him. (Bob) Your Uncle acceded to the proposal in consequence of the heavy charge he was under, and to accomodate your brother. So here I sit in my roome alone, I am the onely white person at home this after noone. Robert and Elizabeth has gon out to her Fathers to spend the day. It is now raining, I think they cannot come in to night. My situation is very pleasant, and I have no cause to regret the change, except I fear your Uncle will not be so comfortable. This reflection gives me pain. Poore man, his every thing has been made a sacrifice for the comforts of others. I hope my heart

will cease to throb before it forgets to burn with gratitude to him. He has been a Father to my children and a friend, yes a true and faithful friend to me. Theodore I know you love him, and think you know him, but you are not sensible of all his virues yet. The day I left his house was one of my greatest trials. He and myself had a long con versation before I left there. he told me he would never forget me and that his home should be my home when ever I wished it, and that he felt under obligations to me for my kindness to him. And as for your sons, (says he) I am well payed for my troble I have had with them by theire corect deportment, and the respectable standing that they have established in society. Your Uncle will go to Georgetown tomorrow to hold court for two weekes Mary Jane I expect will go with him, but I do not know how she will tare herself from Mr Metcalf

Robert has returned, but Elizabeth stayed with her Father to nigh, who is very sick for the last few days Mr McMaon is boarding with your brother and two of Elizabeths sisters. They are allmost grown but have not finished their education yet, for which reason they board with Bob. You cannot think how strange I feel to night, here I am in my roome alone, the Preste in the next room, alone, and Robert below in his roome alone. I can scarce realize the change of my situation. My health has improved, but I am not well yet my physision says I will be well by frost, perhaps so. How do you like the advice I gave you in my last, on matrimony? And how would you like to be Uncle--I wish from my soul you could be with us, if it was onely for a little while. Your sister has the greatest wish to see you. I think it strange that you have never seen her, for she was one of poore Fannys associates, and a favorite of hers at that. Magaretta says you might notice her few lines. I wish you could see her two little daughters, they are the most interesting children I ever saw, particularly the eldest. She is the very picture of her mother--She often says, Aunt Biddy wont

You give a big party when Cousin Theodore comes home. And again she will say, I have two Cousin Theodores, one is Aunt Biddys Theodore and one is Aunt Fannys. I expect you have heard that your friend Mr Haggin is no more. I feel very much for Mrs H. She has had several hard trials lately. The death of Susan and Sarahs runaway marriage has caused her much trouble, but H. loss of her husband is not to be compared with any other sorrow particularly such a wone as she had. I have seen Steven Tibbatts, since he has return I hear he has inproved very much. He is an interesting looking man and very genteele in every respect. Last sunday him and Mr Flanly, another gaduate from West Poin came to church dressed in their uniform. They are too smal for offecers to my notion. I thought, if my boy was to walk in he would eclips those two. I expect you will say such thoughts are not proper in church, true enough, but I am mortal, and I must say candidly I am proud of my sons and I cannot think it can be a sin to love and delight in the gift of God, and he has bestowed me two of his noblest works. Yes, the pride my bosom holds of my boys is assential to my earthly happiness, I must sease, I fear you come to the conclusion that you are perfect. I wish you would send me a prayer book the first opertunity, let the print be good. Robert sends his love to you I hope to hear from you soon. I must close, it is late. good-night, and may God be with you Your affectionate mother B. Sloan

Lieut. Thomas T. Sloan U. S. Marina Corps New York City