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March 1852
My dearest Callie -
I received your very kind and welcome letter Saturday evening - and altho' [although] I am not very well and am very much fatigued still I will not delay answering it for fear I may neglect you too long. You know I have been somewhat famous of late for my procrastination in the epistolary line - 'though [although] [deleted text: t] not very slow about other matters. I have just finished a long letter to Pa directed to Waverley as he directed me to address him at that place the first of this week. Oh you cannot tell how much I have felt their absence - and in fact how much I have missed you all. Last week Mr Cobb was away & I felt so sad & lonely I worked until I was almost stupid when night came - and consequently I don't feel so well from it. You don't conceive what a fine manager Eddy is. He has taken me by surprise and I think whoever gets him will have the best husband to be found. He is so kind & thoughtful - & still industrious & managing. Jimmie stays with me most of the time, & the little boys

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are with me very often. They all behave as well as they can & there is no trouble to get along with them. I tell you all this for I know your sisterly heart will feel gratified to learn that the wishes of our kind parents are so strictly attended to & that in times of need their worthy example & affectionate precepts are brought into display. Truly "as ye sow ye shall reap- & in this respect it does my heart good for their children to rise up & honor them - as it is the greatest earthly reward they can obtain. Lucy started to school again today & seems much pleased to do so. She has just gone with a crowd of little girls to the singing at the Newton House & is in a high degree of excitement. Sallie & Callie are quite anxious to join her. They speak often of you - and seem to miss you very much. Callie begged me very earnestly to let her call me sister the other day - as I was no bigger than Mary Ann Hayes. Everything looks so green and flour [added text: ish] ing now and our gardens with the peach trees are beautiful. I am busy in the front yard and have got one side already sodded with grass - and have sent to Macon

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for roses & verbena. They are progressing with the house and I have now given up the [unclear text: front] which puts me to no little inconvenience. I had Pa's roses all fixed the other day - & his verbena is coming up which he thought was killed. There is no news of importance in the place. [unclear text: Lou Morton] had twin sons about a week since which are dead - & she is extremely ill. Poor little Noel McHenry has become very suddenly without any apparent [added text: cause] perfectly blind. Sarah passed through here on her way to see Dr [Doctor] Banks about a week since and was in great distress about him. You know he was decidedly her favorite. Col [Colonel] Toombs is very ill in Washington City with jaundice, pneumonia, & rheumatism. He telegraphed his friends in Washington about his situation & sent for Dr [Doctor] Andrews. At the same [added text: time] his daughter Sallie was lying at the point of death, and had telegraphed her parents that she could not live. I felt for poor Mrs Toombs - and I felt also the utter vanity of human greatness. In my heart I blessed God that my lamb was crowned with an immortal crown which could never be taken from him - not even

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by death's - all powerful hand - for he has passed to that bright world - where "passing away" is no more the impress on his brow - but an "eternal weight of glory" before the throne of God - which "perishes not" but "increases more & more unto the perfect day." The "Higgins" are still creating quite a noise in the town and yesterday drew quite a crowd to the church. Mr Bachelor the successor of Mr Castleton preached for us and I thought very often of your mission on a previous occasion. A collection without previous notice was taken up in the church & $50 was raised. Mr Castleton has again lost his wife. Mr Asbury [unclear text: Hull] is building a house of brick on the old site - to be I understand just like the Bank. I believe I have retailed all of the news I can collect. I have become either from want of practice or natural dulness [dullness] which has grown upon me of late a poor scribe but dear Callie I will submit myself to the severest criticism to receive your kind letters. I will try to improve & become more interesting I promise you - & I think you will believe [added text: this] knowing my past neglect in the epistolary line - when you receive an answer so soon to your letter.

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Do continue to write even if I should prove remiss in duty & God will reward you for the comfort which it gives to my often sad heart. Tell me of all your feelings plans & arrangements & never fear that I will "smile" but "brother Tom" & myself delight to hear of the welfare of one we have loved so dearly. Tell [unclear text: Will] I have missed him so much & Lucy really grieved about him. [unclear text: My]

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heartfelt congratulations to [unclear text: Lid] & himself. He knows how sincerely he has

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them. Tell brother Porter I liked him before - I love him now for his kindness to you. And to [unclear text: Joe] & Muggie my warmest love & a kiss to little Annie. But another sheet would fail to hold the messages from Mr Cobb children & all - so I only [unclear text: add] receive them with the love of your sister
[signed: Marion ]
Remember me & somebody else to Miss [unclear text: Yuddy] -