Nella Fontaine Binckley to John Milton Binckley, December 1, 1870

[Nellie (Nella Fontaine) Binckley (ten years old) at Norfolk, Virginia, to John Milton Binckley at [Colorado?], December 1, 1870. My rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.
 
Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing a scan of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

                                                  Norfolk. December 1st 1870
Dear Papa,

I am just as busy as I can be making Christmas gifts. I am making a penwiper for Sue, and I've made one for Aunt Charlotte, and I am making a mat for an old colored woman, Aunt Jane Butt they call her, but mama calls her Mammy. Mammy's niece was burnt up not long ago, and left a little tiny baby for Mammy to [take] care of. Was'nt [wasn't] it dreadful to be burnt up? I think so.

I was hurt right bad with hot water and that is almost as bad as being burnt? [O]nly I was'nt [wasn't] killed. 

Mama has named the baby George after Uncle George, and I know you'll like that better than Julius. 

I am dreadfully sorry Uncle George is sick, and I hope he'll get well soon.

I'd tell you what Grandma's Christmas gift is but I'm afraid Grandma might read this letter before Christmas and then she'd know. 

There is the funniest old gentleman boarding here, he can't speak more than three words of English, and he has taken a great fancy to Harvey and tries so hard to talk to him (Harvey) making such funny mistakes. The old gentleman's name is Mr. Snykers, he and his wife butter their bread with red peppers . . . just to think of buttering your bread with those red and green peppers. Mamma says they must have throats of iron and I think so too. 

They have a whole shaggy dog, that they wont [won't] let have any salt meat, for they say it makes its hair come out, and it (the dog) has his hair washed with soap and water, and combed, and curled, every morning, by the old Mrs. Snykers, is'nt [isn't] that queer?

I am going to give you a gift on Christmas that I know you'll like. I'm sure you will, its [it's] something splendid, but I'm not going to tell you, for you'll see. 

I'm going to give Tommy Butts a little gilt watch chain and Sam[?] is going to buy a little toy watch for two[?] cents to put on it.

I went to see a man named Wyman play tricks with Mr. and Mrs. Blanford and Miss Harriet Howard, and they gave presents to every body. I got a little gilt watch chain and I didn't [it] want so I'm to give it to Tommy on Christmas. Mr. Blanford got a set of black jewelry but he gave it to Mrs. Blanford for a little watch-chain like mine that she got. Miss Harriet got a set of jewelry too. I'll write about the tricks Wyman played, in my next letter, for I hav'nt [haven't] room here. 

                                               Your Affectionate Daughter, Nellie
                                  Please write to me soon

[Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (September 1, 1860-April 27, 1951).
John Milton Binckley (circa 1831-1878).
Sue = Sue Henry Mitchell/Michel Taliaferro (1845-1940).
Aunt Charlotte =  Aunt Charlotte = Charlotte Elizabeth Griffin Mitchell/Michel (1829-1921).
Aunt Jane Butt = there is a Jane Butt (born circa 1818, age 52) listed in the 1870 federal census, living in the 4th Ward.
Mama = Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930).
Baby George = George Sydney Binckley (born September 9, 1870-1941).
Uncle George = George Michael Binckley (1828-1885).
Grandma = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Harvey = Harvey Mitchell Binckley (1864-1928). 
Mr. and Mrs. Snykers = not sure who they are.
Tommy Butts = there are two Thomas Butts listed in the 1870 federal census, living in the 1st Ward].
Wyman = not sure who this is. 
Mr. and Mrs. Balnford = not sire who they are. 
Miss Harriet ]= not sure who this is.]