Letter of Virginia Campbell to husband Robert
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Mt Carbon July 7, 1856
Dear Husband
I received your telegraph yesterday. Mr Tucker had been so kind as to write a message the day before announcing your telegraphic message. I was sorry to hear you did not get there on Sunday as you expected you must have been obliged to lie over at some place for some hours.
Our blessed children are well and the baby’s flesh is so firm and he improves every day perceptibly, if you could hear ^him [^] talking in his way — you would be surprised to hear what a loud noise he can make and it is to my ear the sweetest music. Hazlett was so pleased with your Daguerre he said “Lady is laughing at me” Mama talk to Lady” and makes me take it out for him to see, he seems to take a pleasure in looking at it, as if you were present.
[Page 2] The tableaux came off very successfully the other day ‑I never saw any as good Hughy & Tommy had their full share of the fun I assure — Tommy officiated as “a washerwoman” at a big tub with cap, petticoats, etc etc — and Hugh was dressed as a “page” and he gave it as his opinion that he was the prettiest one there the innocence of
childhood! I like to prolong it as long as possible. You will be surprised to hear that I was at a party last night. We were at that handsome house on the hill near Pottsville where the Monument stands. Mrs Banan came and invited the whole Campbell party as well as some other ladies in the house — we had a very nice tea, and ice cream etc etc after tea — they had been at the tableaux here the
evening before — Cousin Mary & I ordered ice cream and cake as refreshments considering that as our part in the necessary
[Page 3] preperations. I met at Mrs Banan’s at Capt Simmons of the army and his lady we had a good deal of talk together She knows
all of our army friends in St Louis, she had a very startling occurrence to spoil her evening, a young son who has just been a month at West Point and is about to be physically examined as to his qualification for that profession had a hemaraghe from the lungs and with the blood coming from mouth and nose came up the hill on foot to
find his Mother & father who were sitting playing whist Their pleasure was soon destroyed. I’m told she has lost maybe t?? before in that way as soon as they come to maturity. I sympathized with her very much. Sister and Betty seem to be very happy here. I intend to write to Mother very soon. I want Sister to write her own version of Betty’s love affair
[Page 4] Betty is not forward in her ways at all she seems to love fun
and dancing and is a very cheerful talkative happy disposition I think in a month she will not care a ??? for her dandy dancing ?eau. I have not said a word to her about it, ??? she to me. Brother Hugh is going down to the city tomorrow — there is some little business doing and I think he tires of the monotony here — to us it is very pleasant and our sewing and gossip occupies us. dear little Hazlett is company for us all with his sweet tongue — he is the dearest child ever was — he enjoyed the tableaux very much — but said “I wont keep still” I will talk” when Mr Whitaker was reciting a long programme he made every
body laugh.
The widow Mrs Bryan with her family
[Page 5, on Page 1] are here — I should rather be at
home — (not sure which sentence is next} They all think the Daguerre good, but older than you a good deal. I like it pretty well. I do not think it is a very good one, but the children think it is just like you, so it is better than none.
Hugh sends his good love he reads a good deal to me I had a very nice letter from Cousin Missouri saying many kind things of you your kindnesses to aunt Betsy. {} if l were She ‑I suppose she thinks it will do her children good
Dear husband I feel so sorry to think you are out in St Louis alone ‑I feel anxious to hear what you do with yourself where you eat and so on Give my love to Mr Branch and Mackenzie & Woods if you see them
Your affect wife
VJ Campbell