16 May 1897 Letter from James Monroe Smith to Eva Slaton Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 11/2005 ************************************************ 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. ================================================================================= 16 May 1897 Letter from James Monroe Smith to Eva Slaton Smith became the Union Parish Clerk of Court in 1879 and served until 1900, when he resigned to serve as a Louisiana State Senator ================================================================================== ================================================================================== James M. Smith Sr. to Eva Slaton (Addressed to Mrs. M. L. Brooks; c/o T T Slaton) Jas. M. Smith, Clerk Edward Everett, Deputy Clerk's Office Parish of Union Farmerville, LA May 16, 1897 My Darling Sweet Little Eva Girl, It was so good and sweet and thoughtful of you of you darling to write me so soon after receiving my letter. You are beyond all possibility of a doubt the sweetest and best and shall I say truest little girl in the world to your sweet- heart! To say the least darling there are none in my opinion more true and you can rest with the calm assurance that I am just as true to you and love my precious little doll with a devotion as ardent and tender as any lover ever cher-ished for the girl of his choice. Dearest I am sorry you construed what I had to say about your hinting for one not to write so often seriously. I didn't so intend it & was only jesting I verily believe my little darling likes to get letters from her boy as well & as often as he does from her. You have always been just as prompt, sweet and good as should be in responding. I am so sorry my little angel girl hasn't been so well of late and I hope by now she is herself again. May be if I could visit her now it might have a good tonic effect upon her but then it might not, but have a contrary effect from sitting up so late & losing sleep. You know darling when I get with you I just can't leave until the very lateness of the hour forces me to do so. My cup of happiness is full to overflowing when with my little angel, but not at any other time & with any one else. Darling I can't help being so impatient and anxious for that day to come when I shall be the "central figure" at that "rare feast" you say you are going to prepare for me. No, my sweet little doll shall be the chicfest on that great occasion. Darling, you have been under Dr. Howell's treatment now for about 3 1/2 months and do you really think it has benefited you much? Do you know that some how I haven't the confidence in has skill as a physician some have? I have it in my mind that he has great deal of confidence in himself, which is very necessary for every one to have, but this is to such an extent that I fear he is inclined to be rather too risky and experimental. I may be wrong but that is the way I size him up. I think his suggestion for you not to keep late hours at night is bound to be a wise one & it may be those long walks were most (?) too fatiguing. You should take great care not to over exert yourself and be regular in your exercise & sleeping & I had better add eating too, & be sure not eat too much, for I expect you do usually. I don't know how I'll manage now when I go to see my little girl as I would not do anything that would tend to retard in the least her improvement and I fear if I go to see heart night & stay until the usual hour, especially two evenings in succession, it might do so. So what do you think about it & what must I do under the circumstances darling? You know when I visit you, you are so sweet, so good, and look so pretty and charming to your boy and to be with you is his greatest pleasure. He can't leave until the " wee small hours " force him. Darling I am so anxious to see you, it seems so long since I took a last look of love at the pretty, sweet face of my little darling and I can hardly wait for the time in June to come to visit her. Belle wrote a few days ago wanting to know if I go to Baton Rouge in June if you wouldn't probably accompany me. She wrote as though she kinder expects you. What must I write her? Darling it would be so nice & suit so well if we could marry about middle of June & go on to Baton Rouge & spend several days & visit George Kilgore & my sister all on our trip. Florence is in her new home and perfectly delighted with it. Darling I thought you had a Second best fellow is one reason I thought I was entitled to a second best girl. Where is Mr. P? Dearest that second best girl "cuts no figure", so my little darling need not be the least uneasy about her or any other, for you have my whole heart, every bit of it. Well I'll tell you what I've been doing today. Went to Sunday School- had a good lesson "Paul's first sermon to the gentiles" & had a good turn out. Had singing at 3:30 to practice new songs. We have just gotten new songbooks "Gospel hymns nos. 1 to 6 complete" will do for both Sunday School & church. How do you like the book? I forgot to tell you before I went to singing I toke a long Sunday "nap". After singing we took a delightful buggy ride for an hour or more behind our pair of blocks. The only thing dearest to make the ride all it should be was your dear presence. Take good care my darling little girl and write soon. I am Always Yours Devotedly, James #############################################################################