University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, 19 December 1861

Not knowing your address
I consequently have two letters from
my noble friend in the service of his
once happy country to answer. Therefore
I will begin with the first. I recieved
it same as I would recieve a strangers.
Not that I wished it as a strangers
but it had been so long since I
had been the happy recipient of a letter
from my friend that I scarcely knew
how to recieve it— unless with joy.
I almost thought that I had been
wafted far down Lethe's stream[1]
but happily found myself mistaken.

Dear Charlie please do not pass
such enconviences on your unworthy
correspondent as

for it is not correct. If
you knew what a wicked and rebellious
heart Addie possessed you would not think
her quite the sweetest being. You reques-
ted me to write you if you wrote
anything contrary to my wishes, and
I have done so.

I sincerely hope you have not so severe
weather as you had when you wrote me.
I told auntie this morn that I would the soldier
had as warm a room as I had to
sleep in this winter. What very pleasant
weather we have had for the past week
there has scarcely been a cloud to obscure
the beautiful sun and the roads
are quite dry and good. December is
surely as pleasant as May.

You wished to know when I intended
going to Oberlin. I think I shall go
at the commencement of the spring term

which commences in February.
I think I shall enjoy it very much
as I always do when I attend school.
I intend to remain with auntie
till then and attend school here at
the corners which I have commenced
to do.

Dear friend and brother I am very
thankful that you regard your health
as you do. Few know the enjoyment
of good health I wish you to regard
your health above all other things.

Laurie lives here so you see we are
together besides we have our melodeon[2]
here which is a great deal of company
for us. But it is time fore me to
go to afternoon school till then
goodbye when I will answer you
last letter