[Eliza Madison Preston Johnston at Abingdon to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (near Tazewell, Virginia), October 7, 1823. Box 25, Folder 6, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough transcription. Instances of the "long s" in the original have been modernized and paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]
I cannot tell you my dear sister how much I was disappointed when brother Peter returned without you, I calculated so certainly on your coming that I thought it unnecessary to write by him. I sincerely hope you will not be so unkind as to refuse to come with brother Sydney particularly when I tell you that I am entirely alone and expect to be so for 2 weeks.
My husband has gone to Wythe court and from there he will go to Botetourt for my sister, I have heard you express a wish to see her, do therefore come over and spend the winter with us; I assure you I need your assistance very much; I have grown so fat and chuncky [chunky] that I can hardly see and can't walk; don't you think I am in a bad way? I am a sight worth crossing the mountain to see.
I believe there is little or no news in these parts if there is any brother Sid will tell you, but if you will come and stay with me I'll promise to tell you as many funny stories I did in the spring.
I am in a great hurry and must therefore bid you farewell begging you to kiss little John for me and don't let him forget me; remember me most affectionately to your kind parents and tell them I hope one day or other to have it in my power to return their kindness to me in my own house.
[F]arewell again my dear sister and believe me to be yours ever affectionately
E. M. Johnston
[Eliza Madison Preston Johnston (1803-1828) married Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832), probably at Greenfield, on December 29, 1822.
"Fat and chuncky" = she was "heavy with child." John Preston Johnston (1824-1847) would be born on February 1, 1824.
Louisa Bowen Smith Johnston (1800-1873); Little John, her son = John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889).
Peter = Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877)
Sydney = Algernon Sidney Johnston (1801-1852), often called Sid or Syd.
My sister = probably Susan = Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857) or Sarah = Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848)]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
I cannot tell you my dear sister how much I was disappointed when brother Peter returned without you, I calculated so certainly on your coming that I thought it unnecessary to write by him. I sincerely hope you will not be so unkind as to refuse to come with brother Sydney particularly when I tell you that I am entirely alone and expect to be so for 2 weeks.
My husband has gone to Wythe court and from there he will go to Botetourt for my sister, I have heard you express a wish to see her, do therefore come over and spend the winter with us; I assure you I need your assistance very much; I have grown so fat and chuncky [chunky] that I can hardly see and can't walk; don't you think I am in a bad way? I am a sight worth crossing the mountain to see.
I believe there is little or no news in these parts if there is any brother Sid will tell you, but if you will come and stay with me I'll promise to tell you as many funny stories I did in the spring.
I am in a great hurry and must therefore bid you farewell begging you to kiss little John for me and don't let him forget me; remember me most affectionately to your kind parents and tell them I hope one day or other to have it in my power to return their kindness to me in my own house.
[F]arewell again my dear sister and believe me to be yours ever affectionately
E. M. Johnston
[Eliza Madison Preston Johnston (1803-1828) married Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832), probably at Greenfield, on December 29, 1822.
"Fat and chuncky" = she was "heavy with child." John Preston Johnston (1824-1847) would be born on February 1, 1824.
Louisa Bowen Smith Johnston (1800-1873); Little John, her son = John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889).
Peter = Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877)
Sydney = Algernon Sidney Johnston (1801-1852), often called Sid or Syd.
My sister = probably Susan = Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857) or Sarah = Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848)]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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