Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
Primary tabs
It is Sunday night and as every thing is quiet and I am alone in my “cottage by
the sea" I will scribble a little. This has been a very warm day the warmest of
the summer I think and the persperation has flown very freely all day. I wrote
to Silas this forenoon but it was such warm work I thought I would not attempt
your till night, and now it is not cool and the mosquitoes are very troublesome
so I did not gain much after all. Nothing new has transpired since I last wrote
you and I hardly know what to make up a letter of but if I could see you I could
find much to talk about I presume but the nonsense I would talk would not look
well on paper. I got a letter from you last night and one a day or two before.
You had quite a time on your fishing excursion and no doubt had what men would
call
"bully time" I am glad you get out once
in a while and enjoy yourselves I can imagine about how you all looked around
your camp fire. (Monday Morning) I was obliged to quit writing last night on
account of company coming in. Capt Reynolds of Gen Wistars Staff came over to
sing a little so I had to visit with him he is a very fine fellow and a splendid
officer Qr Master Sawyer starts for Vermont this morning to be gone 15 days he
will go to St. Albans to see Gen Stanard I shall try and have him go and see
you. he is one of the best men in the world, but perhaps his business will
prevent him from going to S- I got a letter from brother George yesterday he is
hard at work haying now days In your letters you are very particular to tell how
many letters Martha gets from her husband. well Elisha is a model man and I
never expect to be equal to him not even in letter writing and if he writes 4 or
5 times every week I dont know as I shall make an attempt. Why dont you speak of
some of the those women who dont get letter oftener than once a month and point
me to them for an example
I hope though I will not go to extremes
either way but independently write when my own judgement dictates, but should my
letters be short and a long time pass between them dont forget
that my love for you is just as strong as it ever was and ever will be and
that I am your best friend in this world and I hope "when this war is
over" to be able to make you more happy than I have heretofore I am sure my
absense from you so long has taught me some very useful lessons and one is I
shall know how to prize a pleasant home and the society of my dear little family
better than before I presume I will be more addicted to lazy habits and want
some one to wait on me a great deal but Carrie and Fred will be grown large
enough or perhaps I will take a contraband home with me. would you like one?
about 12 or 15 years old. do you think elisha will resign this fall. I dont
believe he will. his time will be out in 9 or 10 mos. and it would not pay for
him to resign As soon as convenient get Carries & Freds Photos and send them
to me I am anxious to get them have Mary send hers also.
Affly Yours. V.G. Barney