January 15, 1863. Letter from Fanny to Frank Hall, from Plattsburgh, NY.
Plattsburgh Jan. 15/63
My own dearest one,
In our room as quiet as need be save for
the wind that seems to be rising a little. I don't know but I wake and trouble
you with my letter so selfishly that is quite too much of my own anxiety
but how can I help it. This morning I went over to Mrs. Moores to see if
she had heard from the Capt. They had heard under date of 6th why do I not
hear too. It is such a new experience. You have always been so thoughtful,
so constant in writing I do not understand it, so unlike you.
The Capt. alludes to you overexciting
yourself and then there is an allusion to your having a cold. Why do I not
hear from you. Oh it was such a comfort to go there & talk about
you.
Franky my husband I ask as an especial
favor to me that you will not seek in any way to prevent anyone's writing
about you. I am sure you do not wish to take from the comfort it is to me,
to hear not there for even less I would not have anyone suppose that you
desired to keep anything from me, which I am sure you never have, since our
engagement even. Will you tell me hubbie that you will not in any way try
to prevent anyone's writing about you. If you could know how I feel you would
continue to do as you have ever done tell me truly & frankly all. Will
you be prudent, will you take care of yourself for me. Perhaps I am unduly
troubled but it [is] so new in my thoughtful Franky to be sure I do not expect
you to send letters daily but there is such a long anxious time.
Darling, my own one, I am so rejoiced
if it added to your, comfort in any way about the $50. How I think of you,
how my heart is with you dearest. Do not think me unmindful about the tracts
but so far I've not found them. I just been out for exercise and could not
resist Mrs. Moores but I think it doubtful if I find them; I don't know darling
but you let me get them to comfort me more than anything else.
It was stupid in me not to have sent the
N.Y. Times before. Dear dearest one, let wify do anything in the wide world
that she can for her devoted, loving hubbie. Mrs. Moore was telling me to
day that there was so much interests in the letters & c. & then I
thought how sullen mine had been save in love to you. Have they seen our
laden with that? Do you love your wify's line? Oh how [?] I trust that tomorrow's
mail will bring me a letter. Will you number your letters as I do, then I
shall know if I receive them all. It would be a satisfaction even if they
were lost to know you had written. Will you please try & remember this
new one for wify.
Dr. Coit was here today and desired me
to send his love to you. He gave us a beautiful & wonderful account of
his eldest child who died at four years old. He said he was reading Shakespeare
one day when the little fellow came up to him & wanted to know what he
was reading & if it was true so Dr. C. answered him but the little boy
was not satisfied and came to him again & said "Father will that book
help you to preach the gospel." Of course Dr. C. replied so not exactly,
then the child said "Oh please then dear Father send it home & don't
read it." Was It not remarkable for such a tiny child? At another time he
was conversing with a young lady upon her soul's dearest interests and this
little boy came to her and said "I know why you are not converted, you have
such a kind heart." Then he spoke of his son Henry and his religious character
though he had never been converted. Under the ideas of baptism. Then he talked
a great deal of his wife and a most beautiful character he gave of her. She
must be one of many.
Among other things he said that at one
time they were trying to build a church & that he could say that Mrs.
Coit, by her personal exceptions in work, gave one third the fields. Her
industry is certainly remarkable & indefatigable, I am sure. Then he
told us of a poor woman, aged, whom he had found but had lived her long life
without any religious knowledge; how all was a blank to her how utterly
impossible it seemed to be to take light into her heart. Can we be thankful
enough who have the true light shed abroad in our hearts.
His description reminded me of the woman
you found in the woods at Luzerne. So I told him about how grandma wonders
how I can write as much as I do & oh I could write a great deal more.
Tell me darling that you have my letters as you receive fresh ones and it
will really be a proof of love to me & I will thank you dearly own
one.
Now I'll read in your bible and have a
session of prayer, then take up [?] & go to bed and add to this letter,
all being well in the morning.
Friday Morning
Dear Hubbie,
Now for a little more of a letter.
I've just been in our room for a quiet time, When I came down I found grandma
fussing in her room as she has no strength whatever to do. She really needs
constant watching, I trust she is gaining strength but you can imagine how
weak she is when the conversation of others after a little while I can see
tires her, Still she is some stronger certainly.
We have a quantity of snow on the ground
this morning and snow is still falling gives promise of more winter like
weather. This keeps me in.
Tell me, own one, do I write too long
letters. I wish there was more of interest for me to write & cheer you
but news is something we do not possess here. Oh yes, I can tell you about
Mr. Myers; he has had a hard time with an infected toe nail and Michael has
been quite ill with some hard tonsil neuralgia. I think Mrs. M. appears very
well indeed for, you remember, has gone to Memphis, for the present at least.
I've not yet had an opportunity to call there.
You see there is an attraction for me
at Mrs. Moores. Julia is well, though I've not been able to see as much of
her as usual on grandma's account for talking. Even as I said wearies her
some what. Darling forgive me for writing so much in one strain. But, you
will have wify's letters any way, will you not. Shall I tell you what I hear
of you and your work in the Regt. This much know it is most dear to wify's
heart and what you would dearly love to have said. God grant own one that
you may be the instrument in God's hand of being many to the true fountain
of living water & may we sweetly be spared to one another here on
earth.
I know your heart is working in the noble
work and only for you will not be cautious and prudent as you ought. "I will
have mercy & not sacrifice," remember own one.
Richard has come from the mail and not
brought me any letter. How about your trouble that you wrote of in the bowels
& the cold. Do write me frankly & truly my own best loved one. Oh
is still storming & I must send Richard up with my letter to the
office.
Do you want paper or can you get it there?
Tell me ever dearest one, thine own loving wife.
Fannie Fan
Surely hubbie if you were too sick to write you would direct someone to telegraph for me and also send someone on. Do, do remember your wifey's love & your promise, my dearest.