University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, April 20th, 1862

Do not think dear one
that I address you thus merely as a salutation for I feel
that you are precious to me. The reason
that I write the word

as I do,, your
apologies for addressing me by endearing names
shall I say troubled me[;] I was surprised
darling. almost pained when I read your letter
I had not thought of confining myself to
the rules of etiquette when writing to you. nor
do I think I ought: I always speak as I feel
and generally obey the dictations of my heart;
Have I not done right? those that I loved I always have my own form of addressing them
by irrespective of etiquette. I love to be called
by pet names,, shall I tell you what Hal and
papa used to call me: Hal's pet name
for me was and father's (dont laugh
now) was When a child I was
very slender and quite tall, hence papa called
me by that expression. I just asked
father (he is here at aunties) if he remembers
what he used to call me. He replied that he
did,, but does not think I am much of a
whip stalk now. that I am now more of a chub. Ha ha
you say that not more than a week passes
without writing to me. How strange! Last week I
received two letters from you the first time I
have received one from you oftener than
in ten days and sometimes much longer
for two months I guess.
Charlie dear, would you have thought me doing
right if I had engaged a school and
gone on - commenced teaching &c, without
speaking to you in regard to any future
occupations? Truly you would not have wished me to. You say "you found the bitter
with the sweet" while teaching. I have considered all
this but is it not always so in life; and should
I not teach because I will find perhaps a few
unpleasant days? I think I shall love teaching.