Feb 10, 1862. Winston went for the mail in the morning, he rec one letter from Ma. none from Willie & Davis but some things (dish pan &c) came from them. Henry went to Mr Gardner’s got some flower cuttings.
[Rebecca] Feb 10, 1862. A cold rain. No letters from any one! Tivie receives some articles sent for from Jacksonville.
[Rebecca Bryant to Davis Bryant]
Rose Cottage Feb 10, 1862
My dear Davis,
The dish pan & plough-points came to hand this morng. but no letter or shoe - I am disposed to think that a letter, and perhaps nutmegs were put in the shoe or shoes, and were stolen off the Boat – Winston examined the string attached to the plough-points and thinks something had been cut from it. Nothing is heard from Mr Mims on the letters he had charge of – Winston says there is a man of that name that runs the Emma White (not the Burt as you wrote) and enquired about him of Mr Smith, who says the Emma has not been up the river but once for a month and then Capt Mims was not on her - My disappointment in getting no letters from any one to-day has given me the dumps. It seems an age to wait until next Monday. I have written your father, and enclose it for you to send, according to the directions copied from the Couier – Via Norfolk and Flag of truce. I hope you have written him before this.
I noticed the pan was directed in Willie’s handwriting on B & C’s card, and from that infer that he was at the store again on Saturday. I hope this sudden change in the weather will not bring a return of his rheumatism. I am very glad to have it cool for the sand flies on Friday and Saturday gave us fits.
Tuesday morng. I found yesterday that Winston was not going to town until this afternoon and therefore laid my letter aside to finish this morng. hoping to find some thing worth writing. We are all pleased with the change in the weather, especially for two reasons, it enabled Winston to kill another pig thereby giving us some fresh meat and has frozen up the sandflies for a time. I declare! I have had an adventure since I wrote. We all went to pass Thursday at Mrs Stephens' having Winston's horse to pull the buggy - coming home Winston stood on the back of the buggy and drove. The horse is not accustomed to going in harness and it is difficult to make him turn his body enough to clear the trees - when about a quarter of a mile from Mrs C- Stephens', trotting briskly, we came to a sudden turn and between two trees and Winston could not bring the horse round quick enough to avoid the right hand one, consequently we smashed in to it and broke both shafts and split the swingle-tree! We expected every moment the horse would kick, but he stood perfectly quiet when Winston spoke to him and Tivie, Rosa & I remained in the buggy until the harness was all taken off – then Winston took Rosa, Tivie led the horse and we all walked home. Winston thinks he can make two shafts and repair the damage so that it will carry us to town. He expects to stay here until the wagons go again to Smyrna (or thereabouts) and return – probably until a fortnight from to-day. Some of them came last eveg. they left Capt Hopkins quite sick but better than the day before they started.
Tivie is writing to Loulie – Winston wishes you to send him a box of waterproof caps, and two of the G. Do if they are not expensive, also an almanac for /62 if it is to be had. If you can get material for a sand fly net, please send enough to make one for Winston – you will not complain any more that we do not send for any thing. I think – I am glad you have had a little dancing to enliven you, of late – it was a shame Willie could not attend either of the parties – I imagine he has returned to camp yesterday or to-day – it will be hard for him to return to camp-life after so long a visit in town and country. Much love to him and also for yourself from all of us -
Mother
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