University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, 9 February 1862

"Grays Ohio is deficient
in paper mills" will be the
first exclamation which passes
Charlies's lips on the receival
of this. I did notknow
that I was sovery destitute
of paper until I went to
my desk and lo!
sheet was to be found
but I feel lonesome and thought
I would resort to some remedy
The best one I have know of, or the

best one within my reach is this
one. Your "good works" of the 26th &
28th arrived the same day, friday.
It isalmost useless to tell you they
were joyfully received for that would not
expess onetenth part of my feelings.

I do not think I sufferneedlessly
on you account for it you knew
my heart and knew how Ilove
the imageengraved there you would
not wonder at my anxiety for your safety
How happy I am darling in this
new love, reciprocated with so much
tenderness and devotion. But my
mind is wandering from the answer
to your letter.

Charlie your "abrupt question"
seemed but an echo to one I have
often asked myself in reference to
you and that it this How did the
noble Charlie Tenney ever chance to
love such a little country rustic
like myself. The only answer that I
can give is that you were so
good I could not help but love you
The only difficulty I could find was that it was too easy.
I am not ashamed of you far
from it. I am proud of my darling.
You seem to be quite discontented
with your andmonotonous
life I can not blame you either, I
know how anxious you must be to
havethis unholyI can call it no
better, war close. I too amvery

impatient to see the end, but
Him alone can tellI was greatly
surprised at your informing me
of your new correspondent and
far greater the surprise when I
discovered that you had enclosed
in yourMiss. Holcomb's letter.
I was almost pained when I read
of your letters being subject to my
supervision. Darling do you think
that I have no confidence in
the one to whom I have given my
love? Do you think I can not
trust the man whom I believe
the noblest, the best of human
beings, to correspond with a lady
friend without my eyes scrutinizing
every ine that is written? God
forbid.Never never would I
bestow upon you such an ungrate-
ful heart. I would
be in the of
the betrayed then that of the
betrayer. Now dearest please do not,
unless you wish her letters preserved
and think I can better do it
than you send me any more
ofMiss Holcomb's letters. I ask
it as a simple request will
you grant it? Onlyrelieve your
confidence in as unhesitating
manner as I have given mine
and I will be happy. Bless you
darling, I have correspondents
in the army besides my darling
one in South Carolina -- W. J. Donald-
son -- the other inMansas, Milton
Irwin. I had not thought of
gaining your consent before
writing to them, but if you
will not take it as an
insult, Addie will say one of
her prettiest pleases and
say "Please Mr. Tenney may I
correspond with Will -- my "Good
Templar" brother, andMiltie --
my little playmate? and if
she could she would give one
of her sweetest kisses, which
is a great sacrifice for I never
kiss only my papa and brother
Remmington I mean. If you wish
it I will send all of my
letters that I get from them
and also all of my answers
for Heaven knows that I would
not wrong you so much as to
write them anything that I
would not show to the world
if necessary. Do not be offended
with me will you darling for
this answer. I could not
bear that thought of your
sending all of her letters
for my inspection and remem
ber Addie wishes you to write
to her or any other lady
just as yousee fit. I know
your true heart well enough to
know that you would not
wrong me.

(3rd)
Our friend Dora is well and
the same good girl that she was
last fall. Her brother is in
Claridon. Her parents have moved
there and she is keeping house
for her brother Orin LeaslieMecca
Oh! yes I do remember
Channey Bown, by the bye, he was
one of my "instant admirers"
I did not return the compliment
very well for I did not like him.
Of the two I thought more of
Seth than of Channey
letters have been published
urge of you once more to
your Hallie has written
letters to you, he says since he
came home. You say darling that you
was gratified to know that your rehersal
of yourfirst life strengthened my
confidence in you. I will answer
just as I felt when reading that
rehersal also when you asked me
if I could acceptof you knowing all
this accept of you just as you are
This one thought presented itself
Arethe less beautiful because

a cloud is overthem thus you
are to me. Are you less worthy because
you have sorrows? No, indeed. I love you
better for it. Are you satisfied with my
answer? I do not wish any references
to establish your character and integrity.
If I cannot love you as you are
without inquiring of this fickle world
whether you are the man that I can
love or not I will strive to forget that
I ever was. Father always said I was
too confiding in those I love but I do
not believe it. There are but few people
in this world that I do love I have
but few, what istermed confidential
friends indeedout of there are buttwo
my own relation lady friends I
mean of course I have no confidential male
friendsbeside my brother and the other
ones to whom I would reveal one of my
hearts secrets one is Dora the other
Miss Lenny Leagan the latter is Laurie's
confidential friend. Darling I was deeply
interested in your religious sentiments
and I was thankful for them.
I had often thought of sending you
a Bible but the thought that you
certainly possessed one restrained me.
Iwas surprised and astonished when
you wrote that there was not one
christian in your company.I
shudder when I think of theend
I would urge your return much
more than I now do, but Ido

(4)
not wish to make you dis-
contented but I should bevery
very happy to see you is
fast approaching.Lehent Briggins
keep his
of you often! Why darling I should
have been more suprised if you
had told me to forget more often
than I wasat that I think of
you often! you are in my thoughts
but night and by day. Thank
God for dreams dearest for then
you are with me. I have the
musicto"Dixie' but not the
words. If I can get"Ever oft thee"
at the music store I will do so
and play it for your sake.
Laurie thoughtful as
ever Charlie I have a
to give you some day of my black
eyed sister. I will tell you what
robbed her of her girlhood but
I have neither time nor dispo -
sistion to tell you now besides
I wish to reserve it for the
happy time when you come home
What a gay and careless girl she
was one year ago how
changed! Instead of the gay
and light-hearted girl, she is
now the sad thoughtful
woman she is at times now
gleeful and "funny" but she
is not truly happy, when she
away from excitement
there will be such a mournful

longing expression in her grave
black eyes that my heartaches
for her but I will tell my
story if I am not careful
Laurie is well or was this morning
Did you know she was more than
half in love with my brother?
But what am I writing.

says that I am very much
obliged for Mr. Tenney's love and
return mine also my best
wishes reallyauntie is getting
Laurie sends
love shesay tell him to
give my respects to
Remember me to the boys
and give my love to the one
I send it to.

But I must close God
bless and protect dearest.