Page: [1] Oct 1852 My dearest Callie - I wrote you a long letter a few days ago - and altho' nothing has occurred worth mentioning since then as I have an opportunity I will write a few lines to send with the picture. Col. [Colonel] Young wrote in to Mr Cobb to send him a draft of our house. I thought it would please you to see it and so I got little Reinhart to take two one of which I send you. It is good I think & will give you some idea of the improvement we have made since you left. It will also keep us in view when you look at it I know and though I've no fears of being forgotten - it will be a pleasure for us both to feel that in looking at it you can realize more fully all connected with us. I would that you could see it in reality and be with us and I feel half tempted sometimes to write and beg you Page: [2] to peep at it - perhaps a little later in the season. But more of this anon. [unclear text: Batavia Thomas] reached home on friday accompanied by Sarah McHenry. As I wrote you her worst fears have been confirmed and after her [illegible text] trouble and great expense the [unclear text: Drs [Doctor's] ] parting advice to her was to educate [deleted, unclear text: him] [added text: Noel] as a blind boy. May God in his mercy "temper the wind to the shorn lamb" and out of this great darkness of mind & body work out an everlasting & eternal [unclear text: weight] of glory for poor James' darling boy. Oh Callie today is the anniversary of my little angels last agony - for was it not most truly his last. And now when I think of him bright in the new Jerusalem - and constantly witness & feel the sorrows and trials of this poor world - I fall upon my knees at the only spot of this earthly tabernacle which now binds him here - and with an aching but a thankful heart I bless God that though this is all left to me it only awaits the [unclear text: summons] to be [unclear text: reused] in immortality & to be crowned with his blessed spirit which shall render Page: [3] it incorruptible & clothe it again with light. I humbly then exclaim - & I trust resignedly oh Lord - "it is well with me" it is more than well with my blessed lamb. And then Callie ought I not to be grateful. I wish you could see my boy here - he is so fat - so smart - so pretty - Pa thinks him the prettiest - most sprightly young babe I have ever had - & like all of the others he is very good. Sue Wiley makes a great pet of Callie, who is her Sunday school scholar - (for she goes [unclear text: regularly]). She told Sue the other day that "any way she could fix it she would be named after her Wiley." Sue asked her how. She replied C-A-l-ly ([unclear text: Wiley]) "now dont [don't] you see it will come so any how." I thought it would have been the death of Sue. I took her to church with me. Miss Barnes turned & looked at her for several minutes & much to the amusement of those back of her said to me - "I swear you've got the most interesting children I ever saw - this one beats the others." Now don't you think me vain - don't you justify my vanity. I know you are pleased to hear this. Page: [4] All are as usual at Pa's - neither Ma nor himself very well - tho' [though] somewhat better. I try hard to keep them cheerful & amused as they are more easily depressed than I ever saw them and they do not bear troubles with the fortitude they once did. One feeling alone seems to fill their breasts - the welfare of their children and nothing cheers them more than continued accounts of your continued health & prosperity. Don't let little things worry you but strive to enjoy all of your blessings and in loving & making all around us happy we will be blessed ourselves both here & hereafter. Give much love to brother Porter & to each member of the family who may be near you. All unite in this message with me. Tell Joe I intend writing him a long letter in a few days. Mr Cobb is in Milledgeville [unclear text: winding] up Uncle Millers business. It is still [unclear text: uncertain] when he will leave - in a few days [unclear text: however]. The town is now quite dull college having broken up. Miller is being examined this morning for [unclear text: admission] Page: [5] Well Callie I have written you a prosy letter. Never mind - you must value it for the love which prompted it. I must tell Lizzie Craig was at church Sunday & sat in the gallery with the singers. Mr [unclear text: Croom] is now here & is coming here to live. Goodbye dear Callie. Write soon to your fond sister Marion Page: [6] It is said Clifford Alexander is to be [illegible text] [unclear text: shortly] to young [unclear text: January at best] Mrs Porter King Marion Ala Courtesy of Mr. Clemens