Kingsville. March 7th
1856Dear brother Aaron.
It is a dull, dark, day. The leaden clouds shut out the warm, glad, sunshine, and a heavy fall of snow lies cold and white on the brown Earth. I am stuped [?] to day - Aaron, the poetry of my existence has faded out into Stern reality - please be upon your best behaviour [sic] to day - and do not criticise [?] my unsuccessful efforts, in the way of amusing a married Gentleman.Were you a young man - I would not risk my reputation by makeing [sic] you a spiritual visit when my star of ideality was so far in the wane.
A little incident at times, tends to draw forth hidden powers - thus it is with me - the incident - a little, (as Fanny Fern says) "moving bundle of flannel" - with dark, blue eyes - and a hue of the skin, such as ancient matrons would call dark complec.
Carrie is quite smart - true, occasionally she has headache and wearyness - but it doth not seem very strange - I should allmost [sic] be frightened about her, did not some bad feelings present themselves. She is so much better than we anticipated, never have had to be up with her all night - and has slept well most of the time. It would seem very nice & desireable [sic] to have you here - but - Carrie, is getting along finely without you, so do not feel over anxious. It certainly has been a great benefit to her health to come to Ohio. Tho' I persume [sic] you and Carrie both think you will not be seperated [sic] so. long again for any amount. The little Duckyann thinks her Aunt rather inexperienced in the art of dressing little flesh I guess, though as yet she has said nothing about it - and generaly [sic] pays me the compliment of going to sleep by the time lastly is pronounced. She will be a fine looking child I think, its face is as round as an apple - tho' we shall have to wait for it to get through the prismatic colors before it is very presentable. We have had death - death - on every side this winter. Tis' very sad to lay the young bright head low in the dust. It is a dreadful for come in whatever form it will.
"Death, death, canst thou be lovely!
Unto the eye of life?
Every pulse of the quick high breast
Is with thy cold mein at strife."
Mrs Luce is gaining slowly - and her Friends think she will recover. The thought of a Father and Mother both being taken out of a house at once is exceedingly painful, and society would lose a valuable member were she to be taken away - and tho' Mr Luce was not a very active man, still he never did any harm. Which cannot be said of every one.
To change very suddenly from obituaries to matrimony is very common in newspapers, allow me to thus do here. Cordelia Sanford of Windham remembrance was married on the 2nd of March. Her name is now Mrs John Quincy Adams - Burrington. He is a Teacher. Grandmother says - She feels quite exalted to have two grand daughters marry preceptors of Academies." She reckons that Cornelia will not do as well. I begged of her not to speak despondingly of my futu[r]e. I bad her think that the old adage as true -
The chaff flies first
Leaving the grain
For a mightier wind -.
March 8th Carrie seems smarter to day than yesterday - I try to make her think that the babie [sic] laughs - but no - she will not be convinced. I suppose
itCarrie wants people to think her child is of a thoughtful turn of mind - but that is impossible - she is to[o] nearly related to her Aunt Nic. I wish you were here - I assure you no one else would be more welcome, though your wife is thriving very well without masculine care. I must make an apology for not writing ere this - before my present duties I was putting it off for a more convienent [sic] season - and since this child has been very busy. I will try and write you often now till sister is able to be her own scribe. Carrie wishes me to say she was very glad to receive your last letter - hopes you will continue epistolary favors, and multiply them indefinitely. No - prospect of a thaw - snow covered up all the tracks in the road last night. Sleigh bells are familiar music -Yours aff'y
Nic-.