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Rock Spring
Mar 11th 1868

(one year after they became engaged)

My dear Carrie [who was visiting her parents in Alexandria and pregnant]

Just after dinner is not generally the best time to write letters,
but as I expect to go away this evening thought this would be the
only opportunity. I have not heard yet how you got to Laurel or
whether you got there atall but as Henry promised to let me know
if you met with any misfortune I feel quite easy as I have not
heard from him. I hope thee will keep well and enjoy thy visit.
It has been beautiful whether for it so far, and for that, as well
as some other reasons, I hope it will keep so.

I left Rockland very soon aftre you left, called at Olney and the
store and came to Rock Spring. The road was not any worse than
when we went up and if this weather continues a few days the roads
will be good again. I found everything right when I got here except
that it was dreadfully lonesome in th house consequently I
did not stay in it much. Fixed up a number of boxes for hens nests
about in different places, did some work in the shop and mended
carryall. After supper read as much of Dombey & Son as the "blues"
and sleep would let me.

Got up this morning feeling much brighter and better and am now as
comfortable as circumstances will allow. It is a bright beautiful
day and I have taken advantage of it to make a hotbed which I did
this morning. I find by my journal that I made it once on the 6th
of this month and once as late as the 26th. I also found that two
years ago I planted peas and beets on the 12th of this month.

I have not heard how Uncle Roger [Brooke] has been since day before
yesterday so am going up to see after him. His family seem very uneasy
about him, and from what I have heard they have cause to be.
Grandmother is better. Have heard nothing later from Aunt Mary H.
or Hali's [sp?] children. Henry seemed worried that no plan had
been made about the time of your coming home. He had intended talking
about it at breakfast he said, but forgot it. He said he
thought you had better have staid until 2nd day as it was such an
undertaking for Sarah to get away. Carrie's sister, Henry's wife,
had also gone to Alex. evidently] I think it likely he will be
very willing to see her back on seventh-day, and I know I am selfish
enough to want [underlined: thee] back, and for some other reason this time
that "because the girl does not make me comfortable," for I have
nothing to complain of in that way this time.

How often has thee thought of this day last year? I have thought
of it several times. It was just about such another day as this
one, bright and beautiful, does it not seem strange that we have
been each other's mutual acknowledgement for one whole year?
I hope that many anniversarys of this day may come to both of us
and that we may always be able to rejoice as we do now, that
(continued)