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Nov. 23-29
I do not go to church; not feeling very well. Hear sister Betty has another daughter born Friday 28th. This makes ten children for her. Oh, what a weight of responsibility she has resting upon her! The rearing up as they should be [of] ten human beings. When called upon to give an account of her trust will she be able to say she has done what she could? Hear today of Mr. [Francis K.] Nelson's death. He died yesterday-22nd. Poor man. Death must have been a happy release. Such a sufferer as he has been for such a long time, over two years now I believe. He has ever treated me most kindly and affectionately and I've ever felt towards him as if he were a near relation. Oh! I can see so many of those I loved and cared for are passing away but this world is not our home. Oh, that we could take those words home to our hearts and feel the truth of them. Sister Mary told me when I was last at Music Hall that my old friend Ned Fry fell in the last battle of Manassas. Poor Ned. We have had some happy times together. Monday Mammy Eliza, Nannie, Daddy and I go down to Grace Church to attend Mr. Nelson's funeral. Mr. Boyden preached a very suitable sermon from the words, "I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living." Mr. Boyden, I think, is always exceedingly happy in his remarks on funeral occasions. He seemed much agitated at this time for he felt, no doubt, poor man, that he was putting away a friend. After the services at the church we all followed the body to the Belvoir Grave Yard and there buried it out of our sight. Mr. Nelson lived and died a Christian so it is well with him.
Thy glorious warfare spent
The battle's fought-the race is won
And thou art crowned at last."
Call for a moment at Music Hall; see Sister Mary and all the children. Little Annie is walking about. Have a kiss and hug from little Sis. She has gotten the tea and promises to save me some. Don't have time to have any news from her of Jabe. We are very near staying all night but Uncle Hatter thinks he can get home by dark so we all agree to come. Get back by sundown very tired and sick with headache but a cup of tea sets me up again. Fix up the flowers for winter. Some of the hogs are killed so we have plenty to live on now. Am reading again some of the Waverly novels and enjoy them much. Doing little or nothing in the way of work. Have accomplished something in the way of knitting. In the last year during the early spring and when the cool weather set in this fall I've finished off 6 pairs of stockings for myself, 6 pairs of socks for different people, done a good deal of the knitting on my counterpane besides a good deal of other knitting; hope to finish off two or three pairs of cotton stockings for Mag before Xmas comes yet.
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