[Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston at Craborchard [Crab Orchard, Tazewell, Virginia] to Master John Warfield Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, December 31, 1834. Hand cancelled P.O. Clifford, Russell County, Virginia, Jan'y 1st 1835. Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Some (but not all) paragraph breaks added for easier reading].
Pardon me my own loved boy for deferring so long the pleasure of writing you. I would have written immediately on the receipt of your first letter but was prevented by company. It seems my child that you are destined to lose all of those who interest themselves most in your welfare; the death of your loved uncle has filled me with grief more than I can express. We cannot I think be too grateful to my dear brothers Edward and Joseph for all their solicitude about [us].
You say that if b[r]other E. should accept of a situation, at either of those places mentioned in your last letter, that it is very clear you cannot go. [N]ow my beloved boy, it is not clear to me, if brother Edward will take charge of you, wither ever he goes, I shall be willing for you to go. [I]f he takes charge of a professorship in Louisiana, Washington, or Charleston, it will suit you as well, to go to either of those places, as stay at Columbia at present, the increase of distance will be the only difference; but that will be a trifle, it will keep you on the road a week longer, so my precious boy if your uncle is not tired of you, it is my earnest advice to you . . . to go with him: the sep[a]ration from you will be extremely painful to me, but I have made up my mind to submit to every privation for what I consider your advantage. I hope my darling you will not hesitate to take my advice.
We are busy making preparations for your uncle[']s wedding. [T]here will be no more than a dozen persons here, how much I wish that my darling could be here.
In compliance with your request I write you a most . . . particular account of Rob Roy he is indeed a most fascinating dog he is almost as large as Thomas Preston[']s Milo and he fetches very well and takes heed when we put our hands on him.
I received a letter from Jane today. [S]he expected to go to housekeeping in a few days and is very desirous for me to go there without delay. But I have no one to go with me sooner than March. Rees will go on about the 1st March to lay in goods, and has consented to take the stage that I may go with him.
Cousin Joe went about the 1st Nov to Washington City and on his return, was taken violently ill in Richmond. Mr. Hopkins wrote that there was hopes [sic] of his recovery. [H]e however has not reached home yet.
Your likeness has been a great comfort to me. [T]hrough the day it sits on the side board and at night I take it in my room. I talk to it every day: sometimes think you look sad at other times gay.
I can tell you nothing of your [other] uncles in this country.
My love to all my relatives. May heaven guard and protect my child.
Louisa S. Johnston
[Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889)
"The death of your loved uncle" = Benjamin Franklin Johnston (1808-November 5, 1834)
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Joseph (definitely) and "Cousin Joe" (possibly) = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
"Your uncle's wedding" = Rees Tate Bowen (1809-1879) married Maria Louisa Peery (1819-1853) at Tazewell, Virginia, on January 13, 1835
Thomas Lewis Preston (1812-1903)
Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)]
For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.
Pardon me my own loved boy for deferring so long the pleasure of writing you. I would have written immediately on the receipt of your first letter but was prevented by company. It seems my child that you are destined to lose all of those who interest themselves most in your welfare; the death of your loved uncle has filled me with grief more than I can express. We cannot I think be too grateful to my dear brothers Edward and Joseph for all their solicitude about [us].
You say that if b[r]other E. should accept of a situation, at either of those places mentioned in your last letter, that it is very clear you cannot go. [N]ow my beloved boy, it is not clear to me, if brother Edward will take charge of you, wither ever he goes, I shall be willing for you to go. [I]f he takes charge of a professorship in Louisiana, Washington, or Charleston, it will suit you as well, to go to either of those places, as stay at Columbia at present, the increase of distance will be the only difference; but that will be a trifle, it will keep you on the road a week longer, so my precious boy if your uncle is not tired of you, it is my earnest advice to you . . . to go with him: the sep[a]ration from you will be extremely painful to me, but I have made up my mind to submit to every privation for what I consider your advantage. I hope my darling you will not hesitate to take my advice.
We are busy making preparations for your uncle[']s wedding. [T]here will be no more than a dozen persons here, how much I wish that my darling could be here.
In compliance with your request I write you a most . . . particular account of Rob Roy he is indeed a most fascinating dog he is almost as large as Thomas Preston[']s Milo and he fetches very well and takes heed when we put our hands on him.
I received a letter from Jane today. [S]he expected to go to housekeeping in a few days and is very desirous for me to go there without delay. But I have no one to go with me sooner than March. Rees will go on about the 1st March to lay in goods, and has consented to take the stage that I may go with him.
Cousin Joe went about the 1st Nov to Washington City and on his return, was taken violently ill in Richmond. Mr. Hopkins wrote that there was hopes [sic] of his recovery. [H]e however has not reached home yet.
Your likeness has been a great comfort to me. [T]hrough the day it sits on the side board and at night I take it in my room. I talk to it every day: sometimes think you look sad at other times gay.
I can tell you nothing of your [other] uncles in this country.
My love to all my relatives. May heaven guard and protect my child.
Louisa S. Johnston
[Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889)
"The death of your loved uncle" = Benjamin Franklin Johnston (1808-November 5, 1834)
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Joseph (definitely) and "Cousin Joe" (possibly) = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
"Your uncle's wedding" = Rees Tate Bowen (1809-1879) married Maria Louisa Peery (1819-1853) at Tazewell, Virginia, on January 13, 1835
Thomas Lewis Preston (1812-1903)
Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)]
For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.
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