Augusta County: Mary Anna Sibert to David H. Evans,
September 12, 1867
Summary:
Sibert reports on the daily life of her family, including bread-making,
yarn-spinning, and an "apple butter boiling" in her neighborhood.
Mr. D.H. Evans
Sept. 12. / '67
Mt. Solon Va
Mr. D.H. Evans
Now let me give you the picture of a very busy family. A mother & her
daughters Ma is making bread. Ada ironing Lola churning. Hattie & Lula
entertaining their company on the green sward. I have just left the spinning wheel for the more pleasant duty of answering
your welcome letter of Tuesday. I was so glad to hear from you that you were
well. God is truly good & merciful to us sinful creatures. I have not
finished my spinning yet. will try hard to get
through by Saturday if I live. I was rejoiced to hear that you are coming down
Sunday I can scarcely wait until then it seems so long since you were
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here. I received a letter from Rennie to day she
& David are coming up Sunday you will get to see them. she told me to
say to you that "she was still true to her cousin Davie" sends love to you. The
good people of Mt. Solon are busy now making peach & apple butter. I am
invited to an "apple butter boiling" tomorrow night at Mrs. Cupp's. I am going
to send ma in my place. I think she would enjoy
herself vastly well just as much as I should were I to go. I have made no visits
since my return home the report is floating now that I have come home to make
preparations for my marriage with you. That Rennie & I are to be married
at the same time. Dame Rumor has it all very nicely arranged. Sam Ferror's
sisters want me to come
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& stay a few weeks with them. Sam will
come up for me when I conclude to go. I did not promise as I expected to return
to Staunton before I go any where else. I look at your photographs often they
are so much like you. I don't know how I could content my self without them
since I cannot see the dear original. I wish you had a good one of me when I go
back to Staunton you shall have one. When you come down Sunday I'm going to give
you some pies to eat of my own making you said I could
not make pies Lula is a dear good child she kneels at my feet every night
& says her childish prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep" then asks me if
the angels will watch while she sleeps after the "goodnight kiss" she is put in
her soft white bed at 8 O'clock but not to close the blue
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eyes until I
tell her a "[unclear: Rat] Tale" as usual. We have not heard from pa
since he left look for a letter tomorrow. I wish I could see you this evening it
would give me more pleasure than any thing if I could hear your footsteps in the
hall. I must be contented as it is for that can't be to day or for two more
days. If I'm not on the porch Sunday to meet you just know that I am in the
kitchen. but I want to be on the porch & will if I live be there The
ladies of Mt. Solon are going to have a grand "Picknick" the 25th of this month.
Ada is one of the [unclear: lady's] committee I have nothing to do with
it so far. Be sure & come Sunday I am so anxious to see you. Ma send
love to you. Did you send me the Ledger last week? if so I did not get it. Take
care of yourself I send a kiss & love to you come come Sunday will soon
be here I'm so glad May God bless & protect you is the prayer of one who
loves you. Goodnight.
yours
Mollie Sibert
