William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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This is a cold dismal rainy Sabbath without, but here in my little Tent all looks
cheerful and good to me for darling it is so good and so
pleasant to read such a good letter as was yours
written only the day after I bade you “good by” which I recd last night, but
have just read over again. Still it does seem as though some things in it ought
to provoke me, but yet as you say and believe and I hope is true, "All is for the best", but to think that the
very next after I left, up came sister Katie who I wanted to see so bad, and on
the next train Dr. Janes, it was to bad any ways seems to
me, that I could not wait over until Monday. Sure enough how good it would have
been to have set up in the choir that Sabbath with Dr.
Janes and Katie. If I had thought as much of it before as I have since I think I
should have “broke orders” and staid. What a grand good
visit you must have had with sister Katie. I believe Mr. Parker was a "little to blame" for not
having her come up
Thursday night, then she could have watched with us and
what a grand visit we would have had, would we not? Well it is usless to
complain over what is passed and cannot be recalled, I believe I never enjoyed
myself better for five days than were those I spent with you, darling it has
almost made a coward of me,
for I can hardly think of any thing else since I returned. I am so constituted that I must have some one to love all the time, (that is some one of the opposite sex) and it
does not satisfy alltogether to love them at a distance.
I must be with them and have them where I can wind my long arms around them, and
feel their head resting on my breast, that seems to do some
good, and after being deprived of female society as long as I had
been, and then to have such a time, and then to come back to the old way again so
sudden, is almost more than I can bear, still
I must, but nothing but a sense of duty I owe my country
could make me do it, all the pay I get, and all the honor
does not pay to be separated from my blessed wife, my little "pets", and all my good friends. I am glad to
know that you consider little Ferdie better. I think he will get over it all
right, and then
he will be so much better down home, for all will be
so quite and good there, you will be so much better satisfied, and Mollie will
have such a grant time, running after the "little lambs"
and "goosies", that I believe you will all get along
nicely, besides Father and Mother will feel better to know you are all right
every day, and will have you where they can see to you. Oh! what a good Father and Mother they are, and how thankful we ought
to be, for them- when I think of her (Mother) I want to put my arms around her
and hug her as I would you darling. And I know that would
not make you jelous. And Charlie and Ella are so good
too. I never liked Ella half so well before. I think she has improved very much,
and I want she should learn to sing every chance she has, and you too, for who
am I going to have sing with me when these days of war are over and I am allowed
to quietly to settle down again, and enjoy the sweet blessings of a home - think of all these things darling, but what a singer we will make of Mollie. Oh! she shall be a musician
if she lives and I live, if I have to work on a farm by the month to pay for it,
we will have a Piano some day, as good as some other
people have.
Matters and things remain as usual here- the boys are
all feeling first rate yet, and all goes on nicely. Capt Dillingham came up here
day before yesterday and made me a visit and stoped all night. He is well, there
is no doubt about it, I never saw him looking so well in my life. All the other
boys are wel.- The Surgeon has not decided yet what to do with Jerome, he has
got a bad knee. We expect to hear by next Sunday that Col Jewett is a Brigadier Genl. but like enough it will not be; cant tell
but think he will be. The Pres, has sent his name to the
Senate which is a good sign, and the Senate are going to work all this week
confirming nominations. We do not expect to move to Poolsville now, until about
the first of April, after the weather is settled so we can drill. it is awful
muddy here now. We are expecting a mail again tonight and I expect to find a
good long letter from you, telling me all about what was done last Sabbath in
Waterbury, and that you are a "happy Christian". I wish I was one, and I believe
my faith will come some time, so I can see it all as
clear as you do now. I entended to make Mr. Parker a present, but spent all my
money buying cows, we expect to be paid off soon for four months, and I must
make it then. If you live down home this summer you can have a grate time making
Butter and Cheese from your cows! - how much do you think you can make? - My
health is first rate. I am expecting a letter every mail from Sister Katie, she
owes me one.
As ever William