Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Margret had got this far in her second letter, but could never get a syllable farther, and as I think it a pity to finish waste the paper (money being very scarce) I will finish it to you. I suppose mama told you what a pleasant journey we had down, & how much we were delighted with the sofas and side-boar’d, I think they are as handsome as I ever saw. I have been regretting all day that we had not stayed this week with you the weather is so fine. I went down town the other day day before yesterday and before I came up I found I had spent thirty dollars and yet I have nothing to [. . .] shew for it, it is really enough to frighten one to see how fast the money goes. Margret has become one of the teachers of the sunday school, she is very anxious that I should join her but I am afraid of the trouble, and besides it does no suit me exactly to go to church every sunday. Mr & Mrs Eustace have just passed through this place on there way to the south, they spent two days here Margret & I took Mrs Eustace her out th in our carriage yesterday to return her visits and to [. . .] shew her the town among other places we went Bellville, we were received at the door by a dirty negro girl who shewed us into the parlour, where we found miss Julianne tuning the harp, she went out to call her mama, who came in, after making us wait at least a [. . .] quarter of an hour, the dirtiest lady that I ever saw, whilst we sat there at least a half a dozen fat dirty negro women passed through the room, for the sole purpose I beleive of looking at us, & to cap the climax, a little negro girl with a dirty red handkercheif round her head and one of the same sort on her neck with [. . .] every thing else to suit, came in, and went up to Julianne, took hold of her and giving her a pull called out in a very loud tone “Miss Julianne come here” upon which miss Julianne got up and went with her as far as the door where they stood whispering for several minutes, after which the maid went out & miss Julianne returned to her seat, Margret asked to see Mrs S.s. child, and this same girl brought it in, I suppose she is its nurse, the child is the child is the biggest, fattest ugliest, most vulgar looking little thing that I ever saw; They say the old woman will devide the property among the children as soon as the debts are paid, I was always sure that she would.

I went to see aunt N. yesterday for the first time. I do not not think I ever saw her look better, but she is not well enough y to keep her house yet, and uncle Norbone has advised her not to go in to the storeroom this winter, which advise I beleive she means to take I think her little boy a fright it eyes are exactly like poor little Williams, but Margret insists on it that he is beautiful. When cousin Susan was going away she wanted some one to escort her as far as Fredericksburgh, and without the least hesitation she asked uncle N. to let Robert go with her, and do you think that he did not positively refuse to let him go with he said that R. had lost too much time from his books this summer an that he could not go; they say cousin S. was in a great passion. she had a hearty cry, & would have been obliged to go with a servant, but that a gentleman & lady of her acquaintance happened to be going there and she joined them.

You did Margret great injustice by abusing her so about your dress, she got it as soon as she came down [. . .] & gave it to Betsey Hoy & told her to make it immediately but Betsey never could find time to make it until yesterday although Margret went several times to hurry her, she sent it here yesterday, I think it is a very pretty, and genteel looking dress, the crape and [trim]ming came to seven Eight dollars, I do not know yet what [dress?] making will be we will send it up by the first op[portu]nity. Mama has been quite well ever since she came down, I think the journey was of great service, every one that sees her remarks how well she looks Mrs R. thinks she looks much better than she did last winter.

I must now bid you good-bye for there is to be a cotillion party the day after tomorrow and I must prepare a dress to go to it. kiss Peg & pat for me. tell the former I will send her some pigs and hammond[s] the very first time Phill goes up