University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, 1862 February 2

Did you ever behold
such a beautiful sabbath day as this one?
I feel more like working out of doors
and shouting for joy, than sitting in silent
admiration, as civilized people are pleased to
call it. But I don't believe they enjoy
the beauty one half as much as they would
if they were as free as birds. Oh, anything
for me but sitting in the house so
prim and formal saying just such
words, as if they had memorized
them, and if you chance to say anything

else, blush as if you
had been caught in the act of stealing
Why, Charlie my darling I believe
human beings wander as far from
nature as from God. But you, will
say is this from Addie, such a commence-
ment for a letter from Addie? I presume
that is the fact, does it not agree
with your sentiments? Charlie, You do
not know the disappointment I shall
experience if you do not come home when
HalliecomesI had stored away so
much pleasure for your return, thus it is
with life. How suddenly and cruelly can
our brightest hopes be dashed. But I
truly hope thus that hope will rise soon.
I saw Mrs. Benton at a donations
party last tuesday evening, and judge of
my surprise when she told me that, her
husband recieved a letter from Charlie
Tenney. She told me that she heard
from Hal, I asked her, how she heard

She replied that they recieved a letter from
you the day before. I presume I looked the surprise
which I felt. Ah, indeed, I exclaimed, “Yes, do
you know him?"” she asked perceieving my astonishment
“slightly” I replied “When you write send my kind
regards” Such was the short conversation between
us But oh, how I longed to clasp that letter
to my heart and read its contents, but pride
came to my relief, and I was fearful of
betraying my interest in you, dear Charlie

Can not you read my character in that short
conversation my darling? and do you dare to love
the woman, who for fear of a few trifling
remarks would put away such a pleasure?

Such you may always find me to be,
even if Hallie wished me to throw away the nearest
friend I possessed. I have no[unclear] doubt but
that I should do it, Dear Charlie, it is no
vain talk when I say I would die for Hal
for if I had a thousand lives I would willingly
give them all for him. I have been writing
to him today in preference to you, he will
doubtless tell you what I wrote

I wish you to know me before you love
me for you know not what a girl I am
My nearest friends call me “strange” “unfathomable”
Those who have always had the care of me seem
to know as much of me as stangers, I think
Hallie knows me better than any living
creature, for to him I can open my heart
freely and fully. When I first began
to notice what an interest you took in the
wayward girl, your correspondent, I thought
it wrong and would exclaim, he must not love
me. I had been so used to the
appellations of “a queer girl” ”strange child” so
that I had imagined it wicked for any
one to love me. Even when a little child I
remember of being called a “cold and heart-
less child” when I so much craved genial
love and sympathy Dear Charlie, those I do
love, I almost idolize. But perhaps you will
call me a perfect egotist. Perhaps I am

but I write just as I feel. I should not
write thus but you ask me to “allow you
to love me” and I wished to inform you
of just the woman you wish to love, If
you can love this “strange girl” as I presume
even you no doubt will call me after reading this
you are at perfect liberty so to do. And remember
if Addie does not love you quite as well as
she does Hallie, yet next to him you are the
dearest friend she can boast of and that
you always will share her heart felt sympathy

Dear Charlie: You wrote me assuring me
that your was “free from dishonor” I thank
God for it darling, yet do not think for
a moment that I thought you were not,
for I would as soon think the sun would
refuse to occupy the positions which God has
destined it, as to think that a dishon
-orable act rested upon the name of my brothers friend
and my own darling friend still I thank you
for writing as you did. You may wonder why
I send my letter to you in Hallie's
But “Mecca folks” are very anxious to know
who my correspondent is and I
am just as anxious to keep them in
ignornace.