11 May 1878 Letter from James M. Smith to his future (second) wife, Eva Slaton

Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 5/2005

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

Materials from the Personal Collection of Dr. Robert S. Hendrick, Jr.
Transcribed and submitted by Robert S. Hendrick, Jr.

=================================================================================
11 May 1878 Letter from James M. Smith to his future (second) wife, Eva Slaton
This letter was written seven years before Smith married his first wife
Smith became the Union Parish Clerk of Court in 1879
==================================================================================
==================================================================================

May 11, 1878 
Farmerville,  LA 
 
Miss Eva Slaton 
Esteemed Friend, 
 
   Your much appreciated and worthy epistle in response, winds its way and 
arrived at its desired destination a few days subsequent, and was had with 
pleasure. 
 
   I verily appreciate the cordial welcome you seemingly gave with friendly 
pleasure, my mix-(???) letter; and the elegant and concise manner in which you 
accepted my proposal to correspond. 
 
   Your "excuse" is indeed very logical and deserved of much thought. A student 
who possesses a (???) of ambition in my opinion and experience should devote his 
undivided attention to his textbooks, to ever attain to the desires eminence  or 
success, but however, I cannot conceive of any auxiliary that would be more 
conducive to the attainment of that success than letter writing, besides, the 
novelty and pleasures derived from poring over the numerous lines of well 
remembered friends and "loves (???) at home". 
 
   May, concedes to be the month of (???) and flowers, clad in her emerald robe 
is fast hastening to bury herself beneath the Lothean waves. 
 
   The first day of this lovely month, or May Day more frequently called, was 
celebrated in and (???) with an exuberant flow of eloquence, mingled with sweet 
strains of music which softly floated through the assembly, wafted by the gentle 
breeze of a lovely May Day, producing alike joyous smiles and pleasant 
countenance on every face, after which a rehash (?) of delicious eatable(?)  for 
the most refined and uncultivated tastes were freely partaken of by all. May 
your May Day have been equally as pleasant. Hoping at the expiration of your 
scholastic sojourns at Wesleyan  Institute, that you may be crowned with much 
humor and success. 
 
   Awaiting a response. 
 
 
					I Remain Your Friend, 
 
					Jas. M. Smith


###########################################################