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Dec. 7-13
We do not go to church. The cars miss Jabe so he stays another night at Pantops. He gets home Monday and then the packing commences. He brings me a letter from home from Sue. She seems to think she will not be up at Xmas. John cannot come and she doesn't want to leave him. His work is very heavy now since our Army have occupied Fredricksburg. Cousin Lizzie [Watson] and some of the young children get to Music Hall Monday night. They have come to say good bye before leaving for Henry County. Cousin Thomas [Watson] has hired a farm there to take his servants to in case the Yanks get here. His white family will be at the Court House. They all seem unwilling to go. We hear Henry [County] is quite out of the world and they will have to leave all their comforts behind. The servants have [already] started. Cousin Lizzie and the children will go in a week or so. I feel so sorry for Sister Mary; she looks so much to Cousin Thomas for advice. Jabe and I have fear out of the news. Fear Lydia will get herself in a love scrape; don't know whether I ought to meddle or not. Am very glad she tells her Aunt Mary all her difficulties; feel sure Sister Mary will always tell her what is best to be done. I feel much better satisfied about Lydia now. She seems very happy and Sister Mary and Lizzie [Minor] both take so much interest in her. Lizzie Dee reports that she is studying well. I think she is truly thankful for any kindness showed to her. Monday night we take supper with Aunt Sally. It is a sad-happy evening for I have to see little Sis take leave of Aunt Sally and her household. Aunt Sally has been a good kind friend to Sally and as much as I loved her before she has larger claims upon me now for her kindness to my darling little sister and at a time when she needed friends. I can never forget it. Tuesday morning Dec. 9th the trunks are all packed and we start off; I for home and Sally and Jabe for Mississippi. We go together as far as Charlottesville when the last goodbyes are said and I see the last of my dear Brother and Sister. Oh, when and where will we meet again? In the stormy and changeful times in which we live, the chances are few of our meeting again on earth but we may look forward to and hope for a meeting in our Father's House when there will be no more going out. May God speed them on their way and may His protecting eye watch over them and may the trials of separation from them only increase my faith in Him who has proved to me that He does not willingly afflict any of us. Brother Brown goes with them as far as Lynchburg; hope he and Sally make all right. Brother Brown and I decide that Susan and her whole family shall go to him for another year. It eases my mind not a little. I get home before night with an aching heart. Teach school the rest of the week. Am busy on the War Scrap Book. We are much excited about Fredericksburg. The two armies are both there now ready to fall upon each other. Toward the last of the week some severe fighting is done. On Saturday the loss of life was very great. The fighting around Fredericksburg is called "heavy skirmishing" and it must be truly heavy to cost the lives of so many of our brave men but the enemy's loss is greater so that is comforting.
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