Mary Louisa Mitchell Binckley to John Milton Binckley, August 4th, 1867

[Mary Louisa Mitchell Binckley at Abingdon, Virginia, to John Milton Binckley at Washington City, August 4th, 1867].

Abingdon
Aug. 4th 1867

Have just received your letter of [the] 1st. Most welcome -- most cheering to me. No cordial more invigorating than words of love from my dearie.

The bit of poetry vividly recalls that evening. It is an exquisite little thing. Strange -- last night only mother, Major Wm. Taliaferro and I lingering around the tea table. Major asked me, (we were talking of courtship by letter), if you courted in such a way? I laughed. "No, indeed, he loves to talk too well to resort to the pen." Mother spoke up. "I think, daughter, that courtship was commenced that pic-nic [sic] time out at Branough's. The day rose up before me - the sunlight -- the rustling leaves -- our walk our songs -- The distant view -- the ride home in moonlight enchantment. 

Do you remember, Love, do you remember,
That fair summer day, that soft summer night.
The fresh breeze that rustled the trees of the forest
The voice of old Nature, full, full of delight.

Do you remember, Love, do you remember,
The gray ruined homestead, the old shady yard,
The songs that we sang on the green of the sloping hillside
The dreams that you dreamed as you lay on the sward.

Do you remember, Love, do you remember,
The landscape that glowed, far below us away,
The hills and the valleys, the curve of the river
That shone like a gem on the robe of the Day.

Do you remember, Love, do you remember,
How the fair twilight shone, as we rode o'er the hill,
The music -- the waters -- that rippled & sparkled
While shadows made moonlight but lovelier still.

Ah yes, you remember, Love, yes you remember,
Tho' many a sorrowful year has gone by
That heat that still keeps in its depths a pure fountain
Will never grow old, howe'er dark is the sky. 

[John Milton Binckley (1821-1878)
Mary Louisa Mitchell Binckley (1838-1930)
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)
Major Wm. Taliaferro = William Meade Taliaferro (1840-1913). Disabled veteran, had served as an enlisted man in Company E, 11th Virginia Infantry and Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry. Shell wound at Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862; head shot and left foot shot, leg amputated, Raccoon Ford, Rapidan River, October 11, 1863. Eventually committed suicide with gunshot to the head. He married Sue Henry Mitchell/Michel (1845-1940) on October 16, 1867. 
Branaugh's = possibly related to William John Bronaugh, Sr. (1795-1879), Auditor for the Treasury Department, who around 1859-1860 lived at 543 10th Street SW; or another member of his family.]

Original manuscript in the John Milton Binckley Papers, 1816-1943. Library of Congress Manuscript Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. This is my rough transcription. 

Many thanks to William Myers for sending scanned copies of the documents from the Binckley papers, and also to Mary Davy and Sally Young for their assistance.