Wayne County, NC - Anna Maria (Rhodes) Hill Letters ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spring Hill Nov 24th, 1844 My dearest Cousin Your very welcome letter was not received until nearly a month after it was written owing doubtless to our prolonged stay in Newbern. I have had no leisure time since my return from N. to answer you or I should have written long since, with how much pleasure I hope it will be useless to say. I began a letter to you last week at the particular request of your friend Dr. Singleton on condition that he would not trouble me with his messages but would write them himself in a postcript. He backed out however when he found that I was in earnest and as I did not have time to finish then I thought you would prefer a connected letter to one written "by snathches." We are all preparing to leave Carolina, I fear forever, and although a longer stay at your home could only call forth sad recollections and sad regrets, yet my dearest Cousin you cannot be surprised to hear that it is with heavy heart that I look forward to a bidding a last adieu to the companions and friends of earlier years. Often when among strangers shall I think of the many dear friends I leave behind. I shall be much disappointed in not seeing my dear Cousin before I leave for I had anticipated the pleasure of your company very often this winter, but it is doubtful whether we shall ever meet again though we must endeavour to look on the bright side and hope for the best. I have not seen Cousin Maria since my return from the North but I heard the first of the week that they were all well. Betty has not written since you left though she promised to do so, but I do not think I shall wait for her. I shall write as soon as it will be in my power as I know her too well to be at all ceremonious. If you write me before the 1st of Jany. (and if you do not I shall most certainly be offended), you may direct to Mosely Hall if not to Tallahassee. And now my gentle Cousin will you be so kind as to listen to a short lecture from your unreasonable Alice. Your very kind letter was also very short which latter circumstance rather disappointed me I must confess, though as somebody else, (whose opinion is doubtless worth more in your eyes than that of your humble servant) says I should be most happy to get any. But as I promised the said person that I would not "return evil for evil" I cannot take revenge this time. My next letter shall be measured by your own line for line. I fear that I shall be obliged to say adieu, although reluctantly, as I have four other letters to write today. Mother sends her love and best wishes in the same parcel with those of your attached, Alice Spring Hill Nov 24th, 1844 P.S. Dr. Singleton begs that you will send him those letter of recommendation you promised him, as he is sadly in want of them at present. He also requested me not to say any thing that was not in his favour but "speak a good word for him," but if I may be permitted to judge from appearances there would be little use saying any thing to "my chere Cousine" on that subject. My best respects to your Father and if we may never be permitted to meet again I hope that I retain a small place in your memory. I know it will be useless for me to request you not to show this scratch as you have too much compassion for me to show any thing that would expose me to the ridicule of some and forfeit the good opinion (if they entertain such) of others. Miss Anna M. Rhodes Moseley Hall, Novr 23 Livingston Sumpter Cty. Alabama ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sloan Spence Mason ___________________________________________________________________