A LETTER AFTER THE WAR, MA TO FRED, DEC. 16, 1866

Sunday evening Dec. 16th 66

My Dear Fred,
I was very glad to get your last letter on Tuesday, I love to have an old fashioned talk with you some times, and do take a whole sheet this rainy evening to tell you all about home affairs. What a spell of cold weather we have had! Yesterday we got about 50 loads of ice 2 to 3 in thick, how thankful I felt all the week that I had no more corn to pick up and divide, finished it all when it was a pleasure to be out of doors in the beautiful sun-shine. Trice paid me 85 lbs. Jeffries 73. Jack Wilson 35. Claiborne W. 5 1/3. Elliott and Minor 6 good and half as much rotten, Delaware Longest 30 and Younger 12 making in all about 246 lbs rent corn besides what I made. I shuck out that and feed on it and lock up the barns. As soon as I can, I suppose I must get out some and deliver some of it altho’ it is only selling for 3.50 now about here. You have no idea of the scarcity of money in this region. I have had less than at any time since the end of the war and never felt so at my wits end. About two weeks ago Mr. Timberlake heard me say that I should have to send David to Richmond again to sell a yoke of oxen, when he informed me that there were some Yankees near West Point getting timber who would give more than I could get there, so I sent D to W.P. instead. Last Monday night one of them came up and bought them, gave me 110-$ cash-and I had to send them down about 8 or 10 miles below K.W.C.H. (King William Court House) to him, that however was better than I could have done in Richmond-As he was a buyer of timber I sent for Sam Wilson to show him – and in the course of their walk they came upon that for the bridge. (she may be writing about a lot of timber for working on the bridge maybe??) When he came back he offered me 50-$ for the “lot” and I agreed to take it. He says he will send up this week and raft it down, they are putting up a very large saw mill on an island just off W. P. (West Point) and I hope next Spring he will buy some of trees standing. By the way Alfred Gwathmey-Watson Walker and JW Smith have bought the sale of Mrs. Ayletts Mill and intend putting up a saw and manufacturing mill that will be a good market for our grain and timber. But all that is in the distance-let us return to the present- I had laid off to send you 50-$ and pay off my most pressing debts with the other 60-when that night I got a note from Mr.Garlick (preacher at St. Stephens) telling me that nothing but the most missing and serious embarrassments would cause him to mention the matter, but that you had promised the hand, band (?) should be paid in Dec. and asking me if I could pay it by the 25th. I could do nothing more than write to him promising him the 100- and asking him to wait till I could sell some corn for the rest. Yesterday I went to church and gave it to him, on my way we met with Mr. Porter collecting taxes, from what he told me I suppose ours will be upwards of 200$-and must be paid by the 1st of Feb. Then there is the shoemakers blacksmith L. Simpkins-the Mines-Moohles-? And others all wanting money the 1st of Jan. I will do the best I can shan’t let it trouble me as much as it used to do, but would it not be best for you to try to borrow money and not depend on me? Mr. Cox sent me word the other day he was afraid he would not be able to help you as he hoped, for nobody would pay him. Well everyone is alike about here, and if we could live without money we could get along very swell. I have taken advantage of the good weather and on a ? the wheat and ploughed nearly half of the ????, I have made all my arrangements for next year to my own satisfaction, Mr. Toombs Lewis will work all of Bullis and Stewart’s except what is rented out with my team, take out a 4th and then give me a half-get me wood for what they burn, and attend to the cattle and hogs- he will have enough hands to do it well I hope and I shall be rid of the expense of feeding and clothing. We have killed 10 fine hogs have 2 more and fine beef not to kill and are as comfortable in every respect as the absence of money can allow us to be. We are all doing well and work so in our different ways that we are as happy as persons can be under the circumstances-David studies very well for him. I have had to take him from school 4 days in the last month but it could not be avoided, and he does do well. He behaved with as much dignity and decorum as you could have done when the Yankee was here and helps me very much. Little Will told me I should not be turned out in the cold when you went away and he helps his promise, he is doing his best to learn. Mr. Timberlake is very much pleased with Sister’s learning and has promised to write to you and give you some account of their progress. He has strived? Floss (Florence) as he calls her to master more than I ever saw her. He plays on the flute with them, and every Monday night we have some very sweet music. I am done with boarding schools for my girls as long as I can get them so well taught at home. Bessie says I haven’t said a word about her, so she will have to write for herself-but that thank goodness she can do it-I don’t object to you writing as small as you choose or crossing the letters either so you will write long ones-
Tuesday night-
I wrote the above Sunday evening have not much more to add. Ned Watkins is to be married this week to his Cousin Margaret. Mr. Fountleroy has employed Ethelbert Rowe to keep the sing? Next year for 100-$-Wm J. Watkins has been very ill for several weeks something like brain fever I hear. C.L. Wilson has been at work here for some days fixing ice house and things generally. All well at Smithfield. Cousin Tom has been offered a school near Huntsville Texas at 7 or 800 a year, no better than staying at Aberdeen, Peachie Latane has bought Bewdley at 8000$, I believe that is about all the news for I have not been to Bruington or Old Hall lately. I hope you will not be tired reading all this from your affectionate Mother