Augusta County: Mary Anna Sibert to David H. Evans,
September 4, 1867
Summary:
Sibert writes to Evans and declares that she loves him better than her parents
and siblings. She discusses her sad feelings in realizing that he has supplanted
her own father in her affections. She describes her spinning and domestic duties
and discusses family news.
Mt. Solon Va
Sept. 4. /'67
Staunton
Mr. D. H. Evans,
Your dear & welcome letter reached me by last night's mail I was so glad
to hear from you if your letter was brief. I did not care for that it told me I
was not forgotten by one I love more then all the world.
Yes I think of you Every hour of my life separation does not bind my thoughts I
am here, but my heart, & thoughts are with you. Oh! how much I wish I could see you to night. If I was in Staunton I should be satisfied
& happy for then I could see you often. Those who are dear to me I love
to have near me your separation for one day is more then
I feel willing to submit to. This is my parental home & should be the
dearest spot on earth to me, & here I should love most of all to stay.
It was all this to me once. I still love my home dearly
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&
its beloved inmates, but I love you more then parents,
sisters, brothers or home. I never believed that I could love any man more
fondly then my dear, kind, & affectionate
father. my eyes fill with involuntary tears when I think another & that
other a stranger has supplanted his faithful & treasured affections in
my heart. It does not give me pain to know this truth of my new love for
another, only a gentle sadness tinging my new found happiness, for I do yet love
my noble father with a deep & undying devotion & my sacrificing
Mother. I love them all but love you best. You will not believe me. Never think
again that I was loving, & trying you on probation as you once told me, for had you not been
all I wanted you to be, true, noble, & upright, I should have loved you
still. my ambition & not my affection would have been lessened. You may
perhaps think I do not understand your
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peculiar nature but I do,
& admire & love what may seem a riddle to those who cannot
understand you. Let that be as it may I care not, for all I love best, admire
& love Mr. D. H. Evans. They know I love you & they esteem not
for my sake but for your own I wish you could see me spining with my hair real chignon style. I
find that floating curls & trailing skirts are not convenient for spining, but only suitable for the parlor &
promenade. I'll hurry sure enough, for I'm anxious to get back to Staunton. Ma
says after I'm through with the yarn, I must help to make winter carpets for the
floors, then do the sewing for the children before the snow storms come. I think
she told you last Sabbath that I might go after I did the spining. Well I look for my holiday about Christmas if I live. I
hope to see Staunton before then, as I don't know what I shall do if I do not. I
rec'd a long letter from dear Ella yesterday
evening. she wrote for me to
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come back. that she can't live without
me. I "must not let Mt. Solon's gloomy skies find me from her, & her boy
"I want her to miss me but not sadly as tho' we were
parted forever, for if I live I am going back to stay awhile with her again
before long. My good papa & Hamie left us this morning for California
Furnace. I feel doubly lonely since they are gone. May God bless them, &
send them home soon. I miss papa so much & so long. dear Ma seems so
lonely & sad when her husband & son both leave. I must do a
daughter's part & try to cheer up her drooping spirits. Rennie is still in Bridgewater with her darling little
David. happier with him then
with all others. When are you coming down? Oh! I do want to see you more then I can write, or tell you. it seems weeks since I saw
you last. I would love to see you even with your arms
folded & your head
bowed, & not look
at
me when I entered the room until I spoke to you. your
meditations were so deeply absorbing that you would forget one was near who
loved you with all her heart. I thank you for the kiss you sent me & in
return send you one warm from my lips & heart. Write soon my greatest pleasure now is to read
& answer your letters. I know you will be punctual. There is this
difference between us I speak & write all I feel & you do not.
Lula is well & happy. Ma & all send love to you. I send love
& many kisses. Take care of your dear self May God bless &
protect you is my daily prayer. Write to me soon Goodby.
Yours,
Mollie Sibert
My friend Mr. Sam Ferror came in just as I finished this letter. I have something to tell you he said to me. I can see you open your eyes when you hear it, & laugh he says you have taken me from him & that he knew me first & loved me first & best
