[Mary Louisa Mitchell Binckley in Southwest Virginia to John Milton Binckley at Washington City: two fragments circa 1867-1868].
As it seems no way probable, my beloved, that you will be here on our wedding day, I send by this mail a little "case" as wedding-present. It is the nearest approach I can make to being with you. I have no doubt you will admire the carelessness of the performance: unpinned collar &c. &c,
Please bring it back with you.
Blessings rest upon you, my own darling!
Your wife
______________________________________________________________________________
5) several sketches which I wish you could see, but they are not worth sending to you. I do hope I will soon get my materials and then the weather will be spring like and I will feel well and can go to work in earnest. I am most anxious to begin though I am not losing time as I draw some thing every day and that is great practice, you know.
Mother does not recover rapidly; is still very weak, and easily made sick. I think if she could get fresh meat she would get well, but such a thing is impossible. Willie shoots squirrels and has scoured the country vainly for butter and chickens. The poor white folks around here are willing to sell such only to negroes in order to keep their good-will. And if you are robbed there is no redress whatever, as there is no law and and less order. But I must stop I am not in fit mood for winter.
[Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)
Willie = William M. Mitchell/Michel (1839-1908)]
Original manuscripts 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.
As it seems no way probable, my beloved, that you will be here on our wedding day, I send by this mail a little "case" as wedding-present. It is the nearest approach I can make to being with you. I have no doubt you will admire the carelessness of the performance: unpinned collar &c. &c,
Please bring it back with you.
Blessings rest upon you, my own darling!
Your wife
______________________________________________________________________________
5) several sketches which I wish you could see, but they are not worth sending to you. I do hope I will soon get my materials and then the weather will be spring like and I will feel well and can go to work in earnest. I am most anxious to begin though I am not losing time as I draw some thing every day and that is great practice, you know.
Mother does not recover rapidly; is still very weak, and easily made sick. I think if she could get fresh meat she would get well, but such a thing is impossible. Willie shoots squirrels and has scoured the country vainly for butter and chickens. The poor white folks around here are willing to sell such only to negroes in order to keep their good-will. And if you are robbed there is no redress whatever, as there is no law and and less order. But I must stop I am not in fit mood for winter.
[Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)
Willie = William M. Mitchell/Michel (1839-1908)]
Original manuscripts 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.
The second fragment may date to late April 1869, when Jane was sick.
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