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For my precious [drawing of cross] love my sweet-heart.
East Montpelier. Vt. Jan 28, 1871.
My precious husband:
Does thee know how well I like to call thee by that name, the, very best of all thy names. I use that on all occasions but "sweetheart" seems more appropriate to "jolly" moods than to all. How I do like to have thee call me that, though. There are two dear names, no other person ever called me, that one, because it is uncommon, I suppose, and another one, dearer, still, - because no one ever dared, and I'm glad. I received thy letter Thursday morning, and sent thee one at the same time, - a very poor one because I thought thee'd rather have that than not any and I had no more time to write. How glad thy letters always make me! Mary and Jane laugh a little at me, and say it must be a great deal nicer to have one's husband away when such good letters come. They'd like to feel as jolly over one as I do over thine, but thee and I know that nothing can
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Thee forgot the seal in thy last, but I kissed the pages. Thy dear hand had been there if not thy lips. Darling, I'm so glad to-night that thee loves me, so much that I don't know whether to cry for joy or scream aloud - I'm sorry and ashamed I have
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written so fine. My writing is bad enough to read at its best.
When I write to thee I think of so much to say and so much that I don't want anyone else to know of, I want to whisper, and so write fine.
can be so good for us as to be together. May a kind Heaven hasten the happy day that brings us together. Aunt Paulina has been taking a nap for she is quite poorly - but now she is awake, guess, I'd better stop - a thousand kisses, my precious - and another [drawing of cross]. Sunday morning and how we do want to be together. What would I not give for a glimpse of thee, my dear old bear, such a one as cousin Lucy may have any minute. I cant help but but be some anxious about thy cold dear. Is the cough yielding to that remedy? How I hope so; does thy head ache much? We had fearfully cold weather last week. 21[degrees] below zero. I keep a plenty of cold in my head which increases the catarrh and goodness knows I had enough of that before. I'll try "Sage's" if I don't get better after this cold is gone. -
History - Thursday I worked on my night-gown, after reading thy precious letter several times. I had a nice one from father at the same time. No news, only he wishes I'd better not stop at Charlotte's on my way but come straight home. Anne and Fan were going there this week and will go again by and by when they want me to accompany them.
Father says Naomi's brother has given up the plan he had, and so there is no hope of being released from her, too bad, isn't it? I don't love her over much. Friday morning Freeman West came for me and I had a nice visit with him and the girls. The Davises and Putnams were there in the evening. The next morning F. brought me here, to aunt Paulina's, where I've since remained. I finished Anna's napkins yesterday. The Putnam's, Wests and Thomas were here in the evening. I slept with aunt Paulina, who was the seventh bedfellow I've had since thee went. How a woman is poked off to bed with anybody - seldom has a chance to sleep alone. I'd like never to sleep with anyone but thee again - though I always sleep well enough after a little silent visit with my darling. I generally have an unconquerable little fit of "home-sickness" for thee at bed-time. - still that is not quite so bad as when I wake up in the dark, as I often do, after a dream of thee, and cannot find thee. How I do love thee, my precious. Who would have supposed our love would go right on, increasing
every day, whether we are "present of absent." George had a very good time at Boston, and was at Bellows Falls at an Agricultural meeting. He is a jolly good fellow, and I like him much. Aunt P. is about sick. I've helped her about the work this morning and now she sits by the stove looking over the last Harper's. She just said, "Give Rowland a great deal of love, and tell him I hope he'll make thee mind better than I can. I've lost all my gumption. Thee wont read me only little bits of his letter, and not any of thine to him." - We are having a heavy snow which is very acceptable to the farmers, and I am glad to have it warmer. I can't quite decide what day I'll go, next week, but some of the [first?] Mary had a letter from Tim last night: all well. He is not coming back, though he says he does not expect to stay with Jonas as he thinks they intent to get along alone another year. Thomas has rented his place to the same man another year. I don't feel disappoointed as I had not expected him any of the time, but Mary had, some. Ellen Cabe is some better though they hardly think she can recover. Mary and I are to watch with her again, to-night. - I hope to do some writing when I get home again, and painting more. Freeman gave me a lithograph of Beatrice Cenci, quite pretty - He bought a map of a pedlar and he threw in a picture for each of us girls. That makes me think I've got a new calico dress. I'm most afraid thee wont like it, though it was the prettiest of anything I saw. - I'll send a piece if I don't forget being not at all afraid that a "man" would think it silly, for thee notices whatever I wear. They are almost ready to go so goodbye for a little.
[1-28-1871]
Evening at Horace's - As we sat here in the twilight, it seemed to me we [underline]must[/underline] see each other face to face, and yet I was happy for I was and am most of the time filled with a blessed sense of our [underline]nearness[/underline] to each other. How good it is that "no circumstances of time or place" can ever really and truly separate us. - George brought us down with a little two-year-old colt. It came very nicely though it has not been harnessed but once before yesterday. - I have just written to George, wrote three pages! Guess he'll wish it shorter. Deary me! I do dread to watch to-night. There was quite a fall of snow, last night and this morning, and the wind is cutting up all manner of pranks with it to-night. - Yes, I think I ought to do a good deal of painting, but I can do nothing as well away from thee, dear. I'm very glad thee did so well drawing thy traps and sugar [making?] pictures, and so much hope thee will have more work of the same kind. If the sketches thee sent would do "capitally", - "if &c" perhaps thee can sometime think of some subjects. "Fields, Osgood & Co" will accept. Thy success has, indeed, been good, and much better than we expected. - I am very glad. - Why, my love, [underline]did[/underline] I call thee "lazy at home"? I cant think I meant to. I know thee likes to do thy kind of work, love, and how I hope thee will never be obliged to do other kinds. I mean, for regular
