Nov. 30-Dec. 6
We have such a beautiful sermon from Mr. Slaughter on Advent Sunday ....Monday Mammy Eliza, Mary Lewis
and I go visiting ....Tuesday Mary Lewis and I spend with Mrs. McGhee....shows me some such nice home
made cloth. I wish much I had a dress of it. Wednesday the 3rd Jimmy Minor arrives in the rockaway for me;
brings me word that my darling little Sis will start for Mississippi in a few days and they have sent for me to see
the last of her and Jabe. I get ready and start off before dinner. Get to Music Hall before night and find Sister
Mary in the Green Springs. I'm so glad to be with Jabe and Sally once again but it makes my heart ache when I
remember what a long separation it may be. Jabe has been ordered to report at Jackson, Miss.; hopes he may get
a post and not be obliged to go into the field again. Think he is much pleased at the thought of going South
again and Sally too, though I can see how much she feels at leaving her many friends in Virginia. We have
some happy times together in Sally's room talking over the past and making plans for the future. Our favorite
one is that when the war is over for me to visit them in their Mississippi home. Oh, and what am I to do without
out my sister? It seems as if all the affection that ought to have been hers during the long years we have been
separated had all been expended upon her since she came to me, and dear Jabe, if we had been children of one
mother, he could not have been dearer to me. They make many promises of coming back but in these changeful
and stormy times I feel as though the chances for meeting again were few. God knows best what will be right
for us and I trust all to Him. We do no visiting but to call at Uncle Bob's and we spend the night there. Jabe has
to come to town Saturday and he spends the night at Pantops. Most of Sally's friends call to say goodbye. They
all seem sorry to see her go. Poor little Lydia; she seems so grieved at her aunt going. Sally seemed a link
between her and her Missouri home. Sister Mary gets back Thursday. Little Annie is so sweet and pretty. I feel
proud of all those children. They are so affectionate towards each other and so attentive to their Mother. It
shows that the good early training of their Father has not been lost. Sally and I have such nice little tea parties.
Jabe won't join us in the beverage but he does in our chats. They are mostly on family affairs. There is one thing
that troubles us all three much and will ever cast a cloud upon this visit to Virginia. Oh, that there was a little
more of that charity in the world that "thinketh no evil."