Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to Sara A. Hotchkiss,
February 14, 1870
Summary:
Hotchkiss writes his family, expresses his desire to be with them, and relates news about
acquaintances and activities.
Sara A. Hotchkiss
Feb. 14th 1870 (10 P.M.)
Lexington Va.
My Ever Dear Wife:
I am sorry that I am not at home today to congratulate you upon the anniversary of your birth
day and to wish you many happy returns of the same -- I hope your "ills" have all left you and
that you have had a pleasant day and that the little family circle has been in a cheery mood -
- group I should say, not circle, for I fear that I am a disjointed and lone fragment of
something that is inclomplete without my portion and my fragment
is a waif without the rest -- and now, when I wish I were there, but know that I cannot be, the
sense of loneliness that follows almost provokes to tears -- I have been thinking how you all
look & what you are all doing tonight -- how I think you have all retired -- you keep
better hours when I am away -- but I think I had
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the picture as it was an hour ago
-- only I dont whether Anne played "Shoo Fly" or "Capt. Jinks" at the
close of the entertainment -- You all looked over the paper to see if "Pa" had any "notice" and
know what the "Salons" are doing at Richmond -- news that we will get at 9 P.M. tomorrow -- I
intended to send you a Valentine, but as you could not get it today I thought best to keep it
until I come "a courting", which will be ere long. I had a letter from Mr. Effinger, dated the
10
th
-- I only conclude you are well from a P.S. which says "I met your daughter on the street
yesterda, she was looking very well & as charming as usual" -- I suppose that was Anne on her way to school. I have been intending to reply to Nelly's
excellent letter every day since it came, but I have the pen in my hand so much during the day
that I dread to take it up at night -- then I am so deeply interested in some scientific books
I get here & that I cannot even see elsewhere, that forget the claims of duty in my
desire
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to get the benefit of treasures I have longed to handle & read from
my very boyhood -- Now, My Dear, don't be jealous of the old books -- for though I may go with
them to "dream land" I am sure to come back to my daylight senses and wish for the
"[unclear: living] epistle" in my home casket -- I have just been, tonight, to Dr.
Sampson's lecture on Palestine, Egypt &c -- it was deeply interesting -- I would have
given much if you could all have heard him -- he has been all over "the
lands" and speaks of what he has seen -- I don't know whan Anne
& Stiles would have done if they had heard him tell how the little boys in Egypt climb
up by the tails of the buffaloes to get on their backs & he said the buffaloes do not
even say "Shoo fly"! He had the dresses of the people of Egypt & dressed up as a boy
& he looked exactly like the pictures of Arabs in Lynch's Dead Sea -- He spoke of the
observations of Herodotus -- saying he was a wonderfully accurate observer & writer (By
the way I think Nelly would find a good deal that she would like in that old book -- she will
find it in my Bohn series) -- Dr. S. had bits of mummies,
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images &c -- he lectures two nights more -- he preached last night, at the
college chapel on "sincerity the basis of Christianity" -- a very fine discourse very
suggestive & learned -- Mr. Holland preached or rather lectured to the Cadets Y. M. Christian Assn the Sunday night
previous on "What will he do with it" -- i.e. the soul, body & spirit given to a young
man, what will he do with them -- . This is an interesting feature here - so many able
lecturers are brought here & they have so many here that can & do lecture --
But I must stop this garrulity, for I see the bottom of the page -- Gen. Lee says the "young
ladies must come up and spend some time with them" -- I have had some fun with Allan about a
young Alabama widow here -- . The weather continues very warm, too warm -- I am very well -- I
hope you have heard from Ma before now -- how is she -- I heard from Ellyson -- they are well
-- So far as I know my prospects are tolerably good at Richmond -- I think it now lies between Mr. Ruffner & myself -- if no chance for him I get his
vote & vice versa - More anon -- Write to me -- A kiss just here, for birthday
Love & a blessing for you all -- As ever your loving
Jed.
