Augusta County: Mary Anna Sibert to David H. Evans,
March 12, 1868
Summary:
Sibert describes a recent dinner party and reports on the daily life of her
family.
March 12, / '68
Mt. Solon, Va.
My Dear David
Ella is writing to her Magnus & I will now keep her company by writing to
you in reply to your dear & welcome letter of Tuesday. I was glad to
hear of your good health, glad to have the pleasure of reading one of your
loving, & dear letters again I regretted so much after Magnus came that
you did not stay all week I wanted you to stay but you would not. Oh! how much
& how long I did miss your dear presence All the world seemed lonely
& dark to me after you were gone
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I thought if you could only
come back & stay just a few days longer I would be so glad to have you
with me once more, but my earnest wishes were not satisfied for you are still
away from the one who loves you above all others. I know it cannot now be
helped. Ella has been enjoying her visit home very much, riding eating,
visiting, & entertaining visitors. she & myself were at Mrs.
Cupp's yesterday at a dining party given to Ella we spent the day very pleasantly I wished for you so often for had you
been with me I should have been happy. Captain Riley
his wife, Mrs. Dr. Harris a Mr. Arbergas & several others
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were
of the party. had a fine dinner, & music on the piano in the Evening Mr.
Arbergas sang some of his sentimental songs which were fashionable before I ever
lived. Therefore to me, & other young members present, they were new,
but my thoughts were of you, & with you only while listening to the
music & all day I thought of my absent Love. We have had company every
day since Ella came. Tell Magnus he should have seen his wife on horseback the
other Evening she looked elegant, & caught a beau who admired her
graceful carriage on horseback very much. Ma received
a letter
[page 4]
from Rennie & David today
They are coming up Saturday if they live. When you wrote me-- Tuesday did you
think it was Friday? for you said "you & Magnus were coming down the
next day." Ella, & I looked for you. Are you coming Saturday I do wish
you would for I am so anxious to see your dear, dear face. Ella will not go home
before Monday Then pa will leave for Baltimore. Ada I expect will go with him as
far as Gordonsville to visit a cousin, Mrs. Gordon Beale Macon has been having a
grand time with his dear grandpa, & Aunts. walked alone last night for
the first time in his baby life If Rennie were here now we should feel almost
like the happy, & united family that we were in the days which are gone
forever. Alas! for life's changes! we can never, never
again be an unbroken home circle in this world. We have been happy with dear
Ella & her two
