Warren-Richmond-Fulton County GaArchives History - Letters .....Original Document February 3, 1896 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Julie Thomas jandjplus3@comcast.net May 11, 2007, 1:37 pm This letter was found among the belongings of my grandmother, Louise Avery Hinson Brownlee. It is a love letter from one Madison Layton of Summerville, Ga in Richmond County to my great grandmother, Lucy Adell Williams (nicknamed “Pinkie”). I don’t know where this was sent as the envelope is missing, though she stayed within the Warren County/Taliaferro County areas in east Georgia. According to the Avery family Bible, she was born in Sharon, Georgia in 1877. This letter, as well as others was found together in a Roi- Tan cigar box. As of this transcription, the letter is 111 years old. It is written in pencil on heavy stock and is still in very good shape. It is transcribed as written. Summerville Ga Feb 3’d 1896 My dear Miss Williams, it is with great pleasure, I assure you that I seat my self, to pen you a few lines, to let you knw that it is imposible for me to forget you and to find out whether you have forgotten me or net, now I realy do hope you havn’t so soon. Where were you on the 26th of December. And who were you talking to and what did he tell you. Have you forgotten, no. I know you couldn’t be so cruel as to forget me so soon. Don’t you remember a young gentleman by the name of Madison Layton, told you he loved you on that day, his birth day. And asked if you loved him in return, and you told him that you would tell him before you left for home, and you did offer to do so but you said it might not be what I would like to hear, so I said all right, for I could not berr to hear you say no. And now I want you to remember, that there isn’t but one thing that will every stop me from loving you, and that is death. You are the only girl that I ever seen, that would make my wife, for I love you better, than any human being that there is on earth, and I don’t think that I can ever love another as I love you. Accept, my friend, these lines for me, they show that I remember thee, and hope some thought they will retain , till you and I shall meet again. You may answer that question now, do you love me. Now remember that there is no body that loves you as I do. For I tell you I worship you, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, with the greatest of pleasure. Forgive me for regering to the subject, but you promised to try to love me, and as the old Saying is, try you will succeed. At first you don’t succeed, try, try again. You must to have known, that I love you and (illegible) try your love, or you wouldn’t have made that promise. I wouln’t befrudge nothing if you loved me. When I told you good bye at the depot why didn’t you say good bye. What did I do to you that made you treat me different from every one else while you were down here. Some body down here said that you care a great deal more for Buttie than you did for me, and then again some body else said that he knew that you like me the best, and that has given me the courage to write. And when you write if you care enough for to call me, while commencing your letter my dear Madison. I shall come up easter with Wille and his sister. But I couldn’t come knowing that you loved another, as much as I would like to see you. While coming our of the sibley mill the other night I seen a girl that walked exactly like you, and I tell you I watched her as long as I could see her. I remember you walk, you see. I hold it true, whater befall – I feel it when I sorrow most – Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all. All that I pray for is this world is you love. And canst thou think because we part. Till some brief months have flown. That absence e’er can change a heart, which years have made thine own. Remember this, now it is yours. Don’t break it. I have said you were the kindest looking girl I ever seen. And I don’t think you will treat me unkindly by not writing, and having a good work for me. I am a few that means what I say, and I do say that god is the only one that knows how I love you. I will have to close for this time, ritw soon as I shall wait very impatiently for an awnser. Your very devotedly. Madison Laton Adres. Mr. M. M. Layton 208 Milledge St. Augusta, Georgia As the ripple follows, The wave to the sea, So may god’s blessing, Follow thee. Excuse bad writing above Additional Comments: Mr. Layton would have been broken hearted to know that the “Buttie” mentioned in the letter was “Pinkie”s one true love Henry Robert Avery, nicknamed “Buddie” by all who knew him. They were married January 16, 1898. 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