University of Virginia Library

I am sorry my dear Eliza I have not had an opportunity before
of sending the cloak pattern. I hope you will not get it too
late to be of use to Mary Jane this winter. I have finished mine,
and wish you could see how smart it looks, reflecting great credit
on my economy & ingenuity. No one would have supposed that the old
London cloak was capable of coming out again with such an imposing
effect. It shows the advantage of good materials. I wish we were
together, that I might have a hand on yours, though perhaps you
are too fashionable to wear silk, when cloth is the rage. Tell
Maria I was just a week about. I got a letter from Papa yesterday
written Saturday. He said they were all, but Mama going that night
to the Opera, to see Grisi in Norma. He said he had gotten 4 tickets
at 3 dollars, but Mama's scruples prevented her going to the
Theatre especially on Saturday night, & he disposed of one. George
was anticipating a great treat. They had called the day before to
take leave of Mrs. Patterson, who in a few days, with Helen, a Miss
Norris, Robert his wife & sister, were to embark for Europe to
remain a year or two. Papa was called to the parlour to see two
gentlemen the morning he wrote, and to his surprise found the two
Mr. Lauries; who are making a visit to the United States. He told
him that Mrs. Conger is living with her brother William in a large
house in New York, which they built, and that they give a large
dinner once a week. Poor Tom Tucker is dead, and I am very much
surprised to hear, that he would have spells of intoxication, thoug
he still attended to business. Richard who was formerly so intemperate
has reformed, and now has a good situation on some rail road,
I feel sad when I think of the fate of this family. They were kind
and affectionate to me, and I spent many happy hours with them.
Catherine keeps house in New York & Fanny lives still in Bermuda.
Most of their misfortunes I daresay may be traced to the terrible
infirmity of Mrs. Tucker. In childhood they were too much left to
their own guidance, and many of them yielded to her besetting sin.
Mr. Rives will either come up by the cars today or by the boat tomorrow,
to Scottsville; Mr. Flannagan has withdrawn from the concern
in Richmond, and the new firm will be "Stokes and Co." I see
Mr. F. commends the new firm to the patronage of his friends, from
which I hope the change has been made, without creating any bad
feeling on his part. Mr. R. has had bad weather for his trip, did
you ever see such a number of dark days together? It is a proof
of the improvement in my eyes that I have been able to sew all the
while. I send you a letter I got from F. Gwathmey to read though
she says that she intends writing to you soon. I was not aware
until she wrote that she had a little granddaughter in Baltimore,
more than three months old. I suppose Rosalie told you that I
found the "instruction book" at Flannagans. I waited until the
cars came in that day, & sent to see if Mr. G, had arrived. He had
but declined going out as he wished to get Dr. Norris to operate
on his teeth. I left & he went to see the dentist, finding he would
be engaged all daym he hired a buggy and attempted to overtake us.
We got here just as the children had finished dinner and just as

Rosalie & I had eaten the Turkey hash they left, to our surprise
the little man came up. looking as cold as a frog and saying he
was very hungry only having taken a cup of coffee that day. When
I asked him if he would give Rosalie lessons in Music he very
readily said "yes he would", but has not yet proposed to begin.
He is not as reserved as he was, but is a strange little body.
Certainly inclined to take his ease. He is probably waiting for
longer days to come. Abram brought the news from Nelson of the
death of dear Mrs. Anthony, though I did not hear it until last
week. I have written to poor Mary Ann. I feel deep sympathy for
them all, and well know what a dreadful bereavement it is, though
she has so long been in such feeble health. She died Thursday, in
Xmas week. I wish you would send my little clock to Smith to regulate,
and tell him, that it required winding up twice a day, after
he had it before. Give my love to Dr. H. Maria, Mary etc and hoping
I shall hear from you soon, I remain your affectionate sister
Maria Rives.