University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, 26 January 1862

Laurie is writing to Hal
and wishes to know if I will send a
line to “my brother” I, of course, gladly
accept the offer. I received two dear letters
from you last week and neglected to answer
both till now, and consequently shall answer
both in this one, First I must tell you
of what I read in the paper, which
caused unforbidden tears to flow; I
read that Gen. McClellan had forbidden
any more furloughs being granted.

Now, dear Charles, do you blaim me for
weeping at that; when my anticipations

had been so hightened? I certainly
could not help it although father told
me that I was “such a foolish little girl”
But this is not answering Charlie's welcome
letter, Indeed dear brother I felt somewhat
flattered on the reciept of your poetry; How
often I have wished that I was a poetess,
It is one of the wildest dreams that I ever
experienced the thought of being a poetess,
But as Laurie would say, “cut it short” and
tell the truth “you don't know enough,”
Well, dear brother, even I have begun to
believe it Poetry is--I am tempted
to say--my life. I can imagine poetry
in every breeze of wind that fans my
cheek, in every ripple of the merry
brook, in every melodious song of the
pretty warbler, and most of all and
sweeter, yes far sweeter than all these, is
poetry in the accent of love and friend
ship. but when I strive to place it in
rhyme, my imagination seems tofly

But now comes this, “Read this
last, please” My brother. how many, many
happy thoughts have clustered round that
substitute for Charlie, you dear Charlie would
wish to dispel those thoughts- would you?

You may say I may hold in in a happier
nearer and dearer relation. but my friend
the translation from a brother to a love
is no common affair. I have taught my
heart to love you only as a sister and have
tried to have my love returned only as a
brother. Charlie, I will confess that I could
love you with the true and fervent passion
of which my heart is capable, but Charlie
the dark and dreadful disgrace resting
upon our family! I am sensible to the fact
that there should be no blame attached
to me. But darling brother you are to pure
to unite yourself with one whom the world
looks upon in such a light, or rather
darkness. I may be too sensitive. I some
times feel that I am, but my darling Charlie
had I known of the facts I now do, I could

never never consented to corresponded with
you. I am thankful very thankful for to
Hallie for telling you. My heart and
conscience often reproved me for not telling
you myself, but I could not. My God! I would
exclaim. I could not tell him if it even to
save this nation! Was that a strong expression, my
brother! My brother, what feelings arise upon the writing
of that word when I know it is not sin. My darling
I will not call you by that ould I may
by name, but as my own heart says. My own
sdarling Charlie which I feel to be true.

What am I writing, dear Charlie. Will you blush
for Addie when you read these the sentiment of my
heart. I fear you will, but Laurie was playing and
singing one of my favorite pieces entitled “Heart be still”
and it called out all the deeper feelings of my
rebellious heart and seemed to work opposite from
its usual course for my heart would not “be still”
dear Charlie will you throw this from you in anger
and say “she is nothing but a silly romantic school
girl” Will you dear Charlie; If I knew you would
I would not send it, but my darling, it is an
ill tale but my hand has moved over if never
before in unison with my heart and feelings

Darling Charlie do you not think there is poetry on
this page? I know there is in my heart
But fie! what an expression I have written near the
top of this page drawing the inference that the
name of brother is cold. Bless me! did I forget my
own darling brother Hallie No a brother's name
is not cold but a tumult of a different nature
swept over me at that moment. Than fortune
Laurie has stopped playing or I should again go off into
one of my wild dreams that is my nature when
I hear music, I either sit spell bound or else the
inmost depth of my soul are awakened, but