Extract from Virginia J. Randolph Trist to Nicholas P. Trist

when it grew too dark to read, in the half hour that passed before candles came in, as we all sat round the fire, he taught us several childish games, and would play them with us ... When the candles were brought, all was quiet immediately, for he took up his book to read, and we would not speak out of a whisper lest we should disturb him, and generally we followed his example and took a book—and I have seen him raise his eyes from his own book and look round on the little circle of readers, and smile.

Published in Henry S. Randall, Life of Thomas Jefferson (New York, 1858), 3:349–50.
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May 26, 1839
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