LETTER XLIX.
Dear Mother,—I am doing first rate and getting
well fast. My greatest difficulty is weakness, but I
trust father's Italian wine, eggs and buttermilk will
give me strength. There is no epidemic dysentery in
the hospital; the sickness in the hospital except among
the refugees from Arkansas is much less than usual.
I brought on the attack, probably, by hard work among
the miserable refugees, the most worthless and ignorant
set of human beings I ever saw,—but they are human
and must be cared for. There are some very nice exceptions
and many interesting children among them,
however. Mr. Yeatman thinks tea will be good for me
and has sent me some very exquisite black tea, sent to
him from China; also a wonderful teakettle, containing
a kerosene lamp and boiler, and sundry other fixtures;
also teapot, teacup and saucer of white china.
I am very weak but hope to get well soon; I have just
got your letter. I hope you have some flowers; I have
a sweet bouquet on my table.
[Then the Doctor says.]
P.S.—I can assure you that Emily is doing first-rate
and that you can feel confident of her speedy recovery.
Her illness makes her uncomfortable; it is
hard to bear and attended with much exhausting pain.
Emily has borne her sickness bravely; has been happy
and contented. Allow me also to say that I am under
many obligations to her and esteem her very much.
