Page: [1] Tuesday night, Feby [February] 8.th My dear Callie, How lonely I feel sitting here in our room you may imagine, but I hope may never experience -- I never fully knew, my darling, how entirely you were the life & light of every thing on the place. I reached home this evening about sundown -- found all well -- no sickness of any moment while I was absent -- unto Caroline there was born a son on the 4th -- The negroes have all been to the house to see me and enquire [inquire] after mistress & Sarah -- the creatures seemed delighted to see me and to learn that you were well -- Their countenances showed their joy -- Catherine told me your poultry &c [et cetera] are doing well -- I walked into the garden so that I might write you, The peas are up -- strawberries grown some -- didn't go into the flower garden -- leave that for my next walk & letter -- [illegible text] has nearly finished Fitz house -- I have given you, sweet Callie, all the home news I have learned -- I will go into the field tomorrow & see how they have gone ahead -- Fitz has had no difficulty with the negroes -- Now my little comforter, if I had you & him by my side, I would be perfectly happy -- the separation Page: [2] I have no doubt is for your benefit, otherwise we would never have submitted to it, would we, my darling? Callie, have you any conception how much I love you, how I idolize, how I adore you? You pretty, good, smart, lovely, you perfection -- what makes me love you so? On leaving Athens, I met with a Mr & Mrs Hull in the cars, They were very polite and attentive asked very kindly after you -- nothing of interest occurred between Atlanta & Lagrane [Lagrange] at Lagrange I was put in a coach with three hoosiers -- a man & his wife & a Tennessean I laid down on the back seat and tried to sleep -- but every jolt would make me grab for my darling, but disappointment seemed mocked me. Callie you thought that I was much fatigued by holding you, I would have been willing to have had my old shoulder beat blue, if [deleted text: [illegible text] ] my arm could have pressed precious Callie to my breast On reaching Montgomery, I found a boat, the Fashion, just ready to sail -- 'twas [it was] raining and dark, so I thought the stage would be very uncomfortable & consequently took passage on the boat -- at daylight I was much surprised to find myself only ten Page: [3] miles from Montgomery, instead of at Selma -- We did not reach Selma till [until] Saturday night -- the heavy rains had so swollen the creeks that neither the Marion or Montgomery stages came in -- the passengers in the Marion stage had to camp in a creek swamp waiting for the water to abate -- the stage from Marion did not reach Selma till [until] late in the afternoon -- I left Selma about six A'clock [O'clock] Sunday evening, the only passenger, and reached father's about midnight -- how continually I wished for Callie to keep me alive -- I found all well at father's -- Mug & [unclear text: Lid ] both there -- were you not surprised to see Joe with Will? little Annie is fatter than your Ma -- she is getting to be very interesting -- father's well borer is about to make a failure, I think he will quit -- he has been boring two weeks and has gone only some 30 or 40 feet!!! I went to Marion on Monday, hoping to settle my administration of [unclear text: Sloan's] estate, but found Page: [4] that the Supreme Court had reversed a case that will probably make it necessary for me to wait some 3 or 4 months -- well there is no harm done -- I dined at Sis [Sister] Sarah's all well -- They inquired very specially after you -- I left father's this morning, came by Marion for no other reason, than to get a letter from sweet Callie, but I was disappointed -- I know, dear wife, you have written but that I am deprived of the pleasure by high water -- I shall confidently expect to get it tomorrow -- You must write me, my dear Callie, 3 times every week -- just think how lonely I am, so far away from my darling, now won't you write and not wait for a letter from me? Don't be uneasy about me at all, if I am the slightes [slightest] unwell I will write you -- now my wife if you feel unwell write me & I will fly to your side -- I wrote a short note from Selma did you get it? The people of Marion are much elated at the idea of having a rail road [railroad], I now believe they will build it -- Dont [Don't] you wish they would finish it before we have to travel Page: [5] I saw Col. [unclear text: Lea] and delivered Mrs Cobb's letter -- he looked very well -- his cheeks were very rosy -- he told me, all were well Lucy is in Woodville -- Col. L thinks Lucy has married extraordinarily well, that he has a model son in Law -- I found a letter to you from your sister Lucy, which I enclose -- also a package with a note in it, the note I send -- The socks I will bring -- I send you Pleasants note about the what-do-ye-call-it -- do you want me to bring it? I believe you told me to bring it -- My little dog Cora was a heap of trouble -- Every body [Everybody] wanted to see the Shanghai dog & each one discovered something peculiar about her -- two darkies had a fight about her on the boat -- I left her at father's, will send for her in the morning -- little Annie was perfectly delighted with the puppy, [unclear text: nursed] & kissed it nearly to death -- I received a letter from Julia Jones, thanking me for the ear rings [earrings] -- I would send it, but can't now lay my hands on it -- will find it by my next -- Page: [6] I stopped at Thos. [Thomas] Walthalls [Walthall's] as I came home -- he was not at home -- the Ladies expressed great joy at seeing me and learning that Mrs King my darling little wife, had reached her destination in safety -- They are sincere friends Callie and warmly attached to you -- Mrs P told me to say to you that she would expect a letter very soon -- Callie you ought to write to her -- don't you think so? -- They pressed me to stay all night, almost importuned, I told them I must go home and write to my wife -- that t'would [it would] afford me pleasure to comply with their wishes, but a still higher one to commune with my love Did'nt [Didn't] I do right to go home? -- Tis [It is] growing late -- good-bye my charming, adored Callie and write soon to your devoted [Signed] Porter Wednesday morning -- all well -- I shall hang the meat to-day [today] -- I have just eat [eaten] breakfast and every thing [everything] was mighty poor because my darling did'nt [didn't] have it prepared -- Recollect Callie how important it is for you to be cheerful, also your promise to me that you would be so -- My wife, good bye [good-bye] -- Your devoted [Signed] Porter