13 December 1897 Letter from James Monroe Smith to Eva Slaton Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 6/2006 ************************************************ 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. ================================================================================= 13 December 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. Smith had courted Slaton prior to his marriage to May Olive Kidd in 1885, but May had died in February 1895. Smith and Slaton married in January 1898. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== James M. Smith Sr. to Eva Slaton (Addressed to Mrs. M. L. Brooks Ruston, LA) Jas. M. Smith, Clerk Edward Everett, Deputy Clerk’s Office Parish of Union Farmerville, LA December 13, 1897 My Darling Little Eva Girl, I was somewhat disappointed in failing to receive your letter at the regular time, but thought perhaps the delay was caused thinking I might come. Had it not come next evening I should have been anxious about your thinking. May be my sweet little girl had taken sick again and not able to write me. Darling I intended writing you last night the usual time, but felt so unwell from the effects of a cold I decided to defer it until tonight. I am feeling better now & think I will be entirely well again in a day or so I am so sorry I disappointed my precious little girl in failing to visit her last week, but my business was such I couldn’t well leave. If nothing prevents however, I intend visiting you next Saturday and go to Shreveport Sunday. In the event I don’t come Saturday will come next day & go to S’port following day. I am so anxious to see my own precious little girl I can hardly wait for the time to come! Do you reckon she is that anxious to see her boy? I doubt it. My little girl wrote me a mighty formal, cold letter this time. Didn’t use one single, endearing word or expression from start to finish. I am so thankful and happy over the fact that my little angel is improving so fast in health. I hope darling that very prescription will greatly benefit you. You must write me what effect you think it is having. Mr. Everett says he never had anything to benefit him so much as eating tomatoes in so short a while. Any one who saw him before he began eating them can see a great change. He has gained so much in weight. Well dearest the time for the celebration of our nuptials is getting near at hand, only three weeks from next Thursday. I am happy over the thought. How are you on the subject? Omit (?) you sorry it is so close by? Darling I know no man can be happier than I the moment the dearest, sweetest woman living becomes my angel wife. Life will begin as though it is a new thing to me when I can have her so sweet, so loving and so true to bless, cheer and make perfect happiness in our home. None will be happier than we. The time is now drawing so near we are bound to begin to let some of our relatives and friends know. You didn’t tell me the comments your relatives made on your prospective marriage & your selection when you told them a few nights ago. But of course I might know they didn’t say anything in a disparaging way, for that doesn’t often occur, even thought they thing disparagingly. We are to have a marriage in our town on the morning of the 23rd wit (?). Mr. Sam Trimble to Miss Homie Baughman. Mrs. Kidd (Mary Frances Sholars Kidd-mother of May Olive Kidd Smith) is with us while Aunt Mary (Mary Ann Manning Callaway) is at Ruston. She will return so soon as Mary returns home. Mrs. Kidd has already gotten a nice wedding present for us. I’ll not tell you what it is until later on. Have you written Belle yet? I must write Billie, Belle & George Kilgore & others soon. Darling so soon as I get to Ruston will write you as I will want to call that evening at the usual hour. I’ll be sure & not come on the dates you mention so there will be no conflict. You can expect me Saturday or Sunday next if nothing prevents & if so will write you. I shall expect a letter from you Friday next or before if you like. You must be a sweet girl & love me lots & keep on improving, but don’t over do the thing & eat too much tomatoes & get sick. My darling little girl good night. Devotedly Yours, James ##################################################################################