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March 23-29
No church. The roads this winter have been very bad; hardly possible for a carriage to get over them. I'm afraid I will get to be quite a heathen so seldom have an opportunity to go to church. A lecture from brother Jim on some of my short comings. Mean to try and do better. Also a very confidential and comforting chat with him which set my mind much at ease ....Dave came back Monday from a trip to Cousin Peter Johnson's where he had been visiting. Brother Jim lent him a horse and he was to have been back more than a week ago. We concluded he had been pressed into service at Gordonsville. I wrote to Cousin Peter to know something about him but he, Dave, turned up before my letter had gotten far. Dave saw Jabe in Orange and he sent word he would be with us in a few days. A large part of the Army from Manassas are now quartered in Orange. People all around are getting very uneasy for fear we are to be overrun by the Yankees. I feel no fear myself with the Army of the 21st of July between us. Great excitement about the militia being called out. Mr. Carver [the overseer of Music Hall] will have to go though brother Jim is trying to get him off. Mammy Eliza writes me word Mr. Dowill [the overseer of Pantops] has not gone and they think they can get him off as a police is necessary in the neighborhood so few gentlemen are left around them and there are so many blacks ....As I can't go to church this Holy season, I try to make my reading as profitable as I can; have read some beautiful books, among the Susan Wilborne, a book that I've wished much to read as my dear Emily recommended it to me while she was living in this neighborhood. I read also Divine Contentment, a dear little volume and which gave great comfort to brother Jim, Practical Religion Exemplified, an interesting and edifying book, though its tendency was towards high churchism. I'm now reading Precious Thing of God. Brother Jim better the last of the week and in good spirits. Sally and I look all the week for Jabe and wonder why he is so long in coming. Sally is uneasy, as she has had no letter but the cars and railroads belong to Jeff Davis now and letters are very uncertain.
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