36

Tell Mary and Julia their friends are well, Armistead sends his
love to his sister and says she must send him some word to let him
know that she has not forgotten him. Catherine and Becky desire
their love.

Haw Tree May 4th 1842
Ann [Falkner?]

[ ] you my dear Sister your
letter met with a most welcome reception it had been so long
a time since I received one that I would sometimes think
you pretended taking us by surprise as you did before, but
could not flatter myself with the hope long [ ] my dearest sister
it could have been such a pleasure had it been so
you have not surely abandoned all idea of coming back
there is not a word of it mentioned in your letters now, but
I sincerely trust we shall meet again but if not let nothing
deter us my dearest sister from endeavoring to meet in a better
and happier world.
Martha Goode came to see us on Friday on her way to Warrenton
to have her child baptised, she is very thin and week, it
would make you sorry to see her, she left next day and
insisted that I should go with her to the coronation. I did
so and was very much pleased, it really looked beautiful
The girls marched from brother Williams to the Academy
They have made great improvements on our [custom?] there was a throne
raised about 3 feet covered with a carpet and 3 arches
extending over it all decorated with flowers. The queen and
the one that put on the crown marched up the former took her
seat and the other addressed her before she placed the crown
on, and the queen on receiving, arose and addressed her, they
performed very well. Mary White put on the
crown after that the company walked around the academy they had
a very handsome table set out, there, they partook of refreshments and