Hore Browse Trist to Nicholas P. Trist
| My Dr Nic | April 29th Willows Island |
Julian & Mary were christened on thursday last. Grandmother B. & I represented you & Virginia as sponsors for Mary. They are to leave home in a day or two: Mary to be placed at Mde Valframbert’s boarding school New Orleans & Julian to go to Bardstown Kentucky, where he will enter a catholic seminary. Mr T. regrets very much that the embarassed state of his affairs, should not allow him to send Julian to the school you recommended. But he is obliged to consult œconomy, even where it is most repugnant to his feelings. The price at Bardstown is $125 a year.
I dread the effect of the separation upon Grandmother B.s feelings. Though Mary’s conduct passes all bounds. & gives her much unhappiness yet it had the effect of rousing her faculties from that Apathy & stupor into which they are in danger of falling. Consider a woman at the verge of life, with a constitution shattered by age & misfortune, whose mental faculties, never of a very firm texture, are going to decay, who cannot resort to books for a remedy against the tedium of life, who has not strength for any active occupation, for whom the past is a scene of unhappiness & gloom, & the future contains no cheering prospect—consider this situation aggravated by seclusion from society & by being shut up in the house with the man she detests. such is the picture of Grandmother situation—you may suppose how cruel it must be to part with the only object that rouses her flagging spirits & lightens the burthen of her existence. I shall be under the necessity of residing at Mr T.s, to keep her company.
The persons who promised to pay me at the end of this month have failed to do so but I will borrow money in bank to send you.
I am very happy to hear that yr health is improving—Did Frank Gilmer leave any property & what complaint did he die of?
The crop is fair but we have a potent enemy to struggle with & that is the [. . .]. But the ribbon & otaheite cane will subdue it.
I hope Mr J. may extricate him self by means of his lottery & be enabled to lend you some assistance
