Dec. 27-31
Sunday a rainy day-also Monday. Tuesday I go to town enroute for Rugby. A letter from Dave. State Secrets.
He thinks there can be no reconstruction of the union. Spend several days at Rugby. See Lyd and hear all her
troubles; fear I can't help her ....Wednesday the children have a dance. I join them. The music was from two
fiddles and the piano. The beaux were plenty but a scarcity of girls. I had my fun. The quiet life I had at home
makes me feel that I had no desire for gaiety but I find when I get a chance I get into a merry party and the old
taste returns and I enjoy a dance as much as ever ....[Visits paid.] I'm in much trouble about the servants; think
they are very unreasonable and troublesome. [The end of the year is the time when Louisa must make
arrangements for her slaves that she has been hiring out, as the contracts all expire at the end of the year. ]