Letter: [Marion, Alabama] to Callie [King], Athens, [Georgia], 1853 Mar. 6

Page: [1]

Sunday night March 6th/ 53 [1853]
My dear Callie,
Heow [How] often have you been thought of and has your dear name been mentioned to-day [today] I passed the day at Thos. [Thomas] Walthalls [Walthall's], and they knowing how to interest and please me, talked almost incessantly of my darling and frequently wished she was with us -- how sincerely did I join them My dear wife, this day, more than any other, have I wished for the sweet society of my darling Callie the canebrake never looked lovelier, the air balmy and refreshing, no mud, my oats just beginning to look green, relieving the monotony of the scene here and there a tree putting on its verdant vesture, the spring birds singing -- had my dear love, my own little Callie been with me, how superlatively happy should I have been -- My dear love, time instead of accustoming me to the separation, "but the impressive [unclear text: usurper] makes" -- I do miss you so much -- love I would have delighted this lovely day to have had Callie hang upon my arm, as we toddled to the well, bearing the silver dipper one only one sabbath to intervene ere [before] I hope to clasp my darlings -- yes darlings, for aint [ain't] you two?

How have you spent the day? I know your absent husband, has occupied a large portion of your thoughts.

Page: [2]

I passed the whole of last week at home, seeing nobody and hearing no news -- After dinner, on yestarday [yesterday] Saturday, I rode over to Mr W's [Walthall's], while we were sitting quietly around the fire discussing the charms of my darling, in sprang a lady and who should it be but Mrs Lindsay the daughter of Mrs Perkins -- you know she had been sometime under the care of an occulist [oculist] in N. O. [New Orleans] the family were much surprised and highly delighted at seeing her -- she was looking very well, though she says, she has not been improved by staying in N. O. [New Orleans] -- she is as gay & sprightly as ever -- I felt badly when she first came, seeing the hugging & kissing all round -- how vividly was Callie brought to my mind -- Thos [Thomas] noticed the change in my countenance -- Dear Callie how I do love you, how I long to press you to my bosom and read in your tell tale eyes those expressions of love -- sweet Callie I know you love me and the thought makes me happy, cheers and enables me to bear our separation -- Daisy asked many questions about her "sweet aunt Callie" she made the whole house sing with her guitar, brought by Mrs Lindsay -- she calls her little guitar, a " [unclear text: banjo-ram] " I have'nt [haven't] seen the squash seed you sent, or said you sent -- did you forget them? I shall bid out the sweet potatoes tomorrow -- I have about a peck of Irish potatoes yet to plant, I thought of holding them till [until] the middle of the month -- the others are not yet ripe -- I grabbed into the [unclear text: ridges] the other day and found them sprouting --

Page: [3]

You may ask, what in the [deleted text: word] world has Porter been at so busily as to keep him from Mr W's [Walthall's], well darling I have been plying myself might & main to the farm -- plowing raking out & cutting ditches, rolling logs, cutting coal wood and burning coal, cleaning out wells &c [et cetera] -- I intend to plant corn tomorrow week, some of my neighbors intend planting tomorrow, I am ready, i.e. my [illegible text] ground is prepared, but I think it best to wait one week -- I don't expect to plant one seed of cotton (save my new ground) [before] 1st April If the weather is at all favorable, we will have all the land plowed some two weeks before I want to plant, so we can rest the tired mules & [unclear text: rebid] the land in the low places, rake up beds &c [et cetera] I have strong hopes of making a crop -- I think my new ground the best, prettiest and best ditched 40 acres of land in the state -- I think it will make me a [illegible text] bale of cotton to the acre -- Won't we ride over to look at it, you behind me & Paul in my lap?
I expect to be in Athens between the 14th and 19th of the [illegible text] month -- I want to spend a night with Muggy as I go on -- I rather think she fears I am growing luke warm, you know Callie how dearly I love her, that she is a great favorite with us both -- she is so delicate & sensitive that I wouldn't, for the world grieve her; but darling, when my [unclear text: travels] are turned towards you, I can brook no delay -- I can't stop to see any body [anybody] -- I now expect to visit Lee Walthall on

Page: [4]

Tuesday evening & shall probably spend the night with him if I do, you must not [deleted text: t] look for a letter on that night if any way of sending to the P. O. [Post Office] presents itself, I will write you just one line -- dear Callie I do love to write to my darling -- don't you think so? a single mail hasn't passed since I came home, that I did not write -- Dear Callie sweet Callie my darling little wife, writing will soon give place to hugs & kisses and kisses & hugs -- how these old arms of mine long to clasp my precious love -- Why do I love you so? 'tis [it is] no idolatry in me to love you so, the heart must ascend from the Creature to the Creator -- You too are so pure, so sweet & lovable, so angelic in your disposition and temperament that I couldn't, if I would, help loving, adoring my angel wife -- I thank my God for having blessed me with such a wife -- you are precious to me above all earth your good counsel has often lead [led] me from wickedness and sin, your bright example pointed the way to "realms of endless day" -- sweet Callie, I know you love your adoring husband -- Dearest love, you must not suffer little Paul to get too excited and cut up too many "high -- [unclear text: filavities] at the expected arrival of his Papa -- tell him to keep quiet & bide his time --
Dear Callie' tis [it is] growing late, I must read and I can't sleep without kissing my sweet flower --

Kind wishes for all -- Good night my darling

Your devoted

[Signed] Porter --

Monday morning -- --

another bright, bright day -- a day just fit for Callie to to [to] accompany her husband in his walks all well -- I have just returned from the kitchen, inspecting the the [the] little darkies -- Sarah's little ones are very well -- they all say "Tell Mistress howdy"

Page: [5]

I have just opened the bank of sweet potatoes I never saw a nicer lot of slips in my life -- they are perfectly sound I am having a bin prepared to put them in --

I look for a treat this evening in a nice sweet letter from my darling --

Dearest good bye [good-bye] be cheerful soon, will you be clasped in my arms & pressed to the bosom of your adoring

[Signed] Porter

Locations