University of Virginia Library

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I have been wishing to write to you ever since you
left, but never thought of it at a time when I could do so. From
the date of my letter you will see that I am not at home, and
therefore have not been able to attend to your request as to
blackberries, but I think I may promise certainly to do them yet,
and it will afford me great pleasure to accommodate you. There
are quantities of blackberries all around here, to be had for the
gathering, and if I can only get some the day I go home it would
save some little expense and trouble. Summerfield and I walked
out yesterday and gathered 2 quarts in less than half an hour, and
not half on the bushes are ripe yet,it seems to me they will last
a week or two longer. I thought I could write you a long letter,
but I find it so difficult to compose my mind this morning, that
I do not know whether I can og on with this attempt at a letter.
Mr. Smith left here Sunday morning to go to church, and here it
is tuesday and I can neither see nor hear anything of him, nor
imagine any business which could have detained him. You know I am
not much given to apprehending evil, but in this instance I confess
to feeling great uneasiness, and it is only by great effort
that I can sit down to do anything. We are invited to spend the
day at Mr. Douglasses and it is a delightful morning for going. I
hope Mr. Smith will arrive before the time comes for us to go.
Friday we rode to Mr. Stevenson's and went from there to Mr.
Rives' where we remained until late in the evening. Saturday we
dined at Mrs. Macon's and had quite a pleasant time. Miss Virgilia
upon further accuaintance is an uncommonly pleasing girl,
and there is a Miss Heath staying there, who is a very pretty
girl. So you see we have been quite gay in the country, but I am
getting more and more sober in my tastes, and enjoy nothing so
much as quiet with regular employment. Yesterday I commenced a
tragedy of Goethe's, from reading which I anticipate much pleasure.
The young ladies all left me on Monday week, leaving us as quiet
as possible. I received a letter the other day from Mrs. Fleming
urging us to visit them this summer and if Mr. Smith agrees to it,
I think we must go. As Howard is in a hurry to be off to town I
must close.my letter. With much love to yourself, Mr. Broadus
& the children.