University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, December 26, 1861

Thanks for
your kind and welcome letters
which have but lately recd.
I am surprised that you
have not heard from me
for so long a time. I have
written, I may say, weekly
I do not doubt but
that some letters are at Charleston
I have not written but
one since I heard that
you had left Charleston owing to the fact that
I did not know your
address But away to other
subjects. I have just been to

tea, wished very much
that you had been here
to partake.

Dear Charlie I have just
returned fromMr. Hegless.
Sadie Hegless wished me to
go to Lyceum with her to night.
I will now try to finish this
uninteresting sheet. Dear Charlie
I cannot concentrate my thoughts
to night and you may think
this a rather unceremonious letter
but I imagined that you
would be anxious to hear
from me and that I would
strive to write

How shall I thank you, dear
brother for your kindness in
sending that sketch. Rembember
that your gifts are treasured
and I trust that the day
may come when you may see

them again. Our Lodge is
slowly prospering, oris I suppose it is.
I have not attended it for two
months I guess I should enjoy it
very much — but I am so far
away from it that I can not get
there. I find in the colums
of the news papers that Gen.
Kelly's command is marching
towards Winchester. I suppose
you are under his command

May our blessed Father protect
thee from all danger. Nothing
else can protect you my brother.
I wrote a very painful (to me)
letter to you and sent it to
Warren for Capt. Wood to take
to you. I have some strange
thoughts dear Charlie at times.
Laurie sits here. she say put
down “and, thi go back C ther
she did that

Dear Charlie, how often I
have regretted that I would
not lay my life on the alter of
my country but fate decrees
otherwise.

Did I hear you say “How do
you like your school? Oh, real well
I shall go to Oberlin in February
if nothing prevents then I shall
be in my elements.

Hal's letter that he wrote
under the straw stack, I
had the gratification to read this
morning. I do hope that this
cruel war will soon close and
restore our much loved friends
to our aching hearts. Laurie says
send a bushel of     done up
in Cris kringle's hat. I guess
I will have to wish you Merry
Christmas, it may be rather late.
Laurie won't let me rest till
I ask you if you got intoxicated
when you left C    Hal wrote
in his letter to the Democrat
that a great many were intoxicated
at that time. I presume you will
be obliged to answer it for her sake

[1]Last week I received two letters from you and one yesterday
I would that I could hear as often every week

[2]Please excuse all mistakes and poor writing
for I am in great haste
as it is late