[47] [water damaged]
McCordsville Indiana
Dec 25th 1863
Christmas night
Dearest Ty
I hope you have spent a merry happy Christmas and that you are quietly enjoying
yourself tonight, thinking and dreaming of your wife and dear little babe,
that I am sure you love so well. I have been trying to write you all day,
but, the [?] were all gone but Ma myself and the children, and we had just
[ canıt read line] manage, when I could get time to write, I was so tired
that I had to rest several times. Kate and the girls have gone to meeting
tonight and all is still and quiet, except Ellie, who is trying to comb
my hair while I am writing and all the time talking to me about little Myrtilla.
Oh Ty how I wish you could see our darling baby. I know you would love her
so much, she is dearer to me every day. I can scarcely look at her with
out shedding tears of joy and gratitude.
I think she is going to be such a lovely child, she has such
a mild sweet countenance, and is decidly a bright little creature as I ever
saw, is already beginning to notice, and laugh a little when I play with
her, and then she is so good, has never taken a hard or long cry yet, and
let me add that she is a real little heavy, however, and taste might differ,
but I know she is pretty, some say she looks like me, others think she resembles
your side I can see a likeness of us both! I was quite uneasy about her
for a while, she seemed so restless and nervous, some nights scarcely sleeping
at all but now she is getting over it nicely, only that she will get up
every morning at five oclock; they tease me a great deal about making such
a carefull old fashioned Mother, but you know how little I care, now that
I have a sweet little baby. I donıt get so lonesome now , as I used to I
can take her in my bosom and sleep so sweetly. Perhaps I aught to tell you
(lest you might, have some fears about the mother), that I do not let my
baby go bared arm in this cold weather, but keep her clothing good and warm
every body that sees her, says she is a fine looking girl, but perhaps I
have said enough about her for and I now for something else, and what shall
it be. Yes now I know Carrie came home last night to spend Christmas, it
is the first time she has been at home since she commenced teaching, she
likes it pretty well, and seems in fine spirits. Willıs family is well,
the children all go to school except Ettie.
One teacher is beginning to let out his [?] [?] a little but
is a good teacher other ways. Lieut Ian Heath, has returned from Pittsburgh,
and he and Mr Milt Williams are going to teach a writing school in this
vicinity. I suppose you remember Williams: he is as droll as ever.
Dear Ty Myrtie is awaking and I must take her up, she has been
so good all day, and has slept all after noon and now she wants her supper.
I will write more some time perhaps tomorrow
good night dear Ty
Do write me a long letter soon dear husband and now good night,
I love you and our babe [?] that [?] others oh she is such a sweet pretty
little creature I know you will think so, but it will be so long before
you can see her can you wait!
of late so many have told me that the recruits will be kept
the three years, oh can it be time that we will not get to see each other
for so long a time, I was thinking , the nine months, would be a long long
time to wait, I do want to see you dear Ty
Dr. Tom Harveyıs wife died a week or two since |
The
following are two letters written by my Great Great Grandparents, Pelatiah
"Ty" & Cornelia "Nellie" (EDWARDS) BOND, on the 25th of December
1863. Nellie was in McCordsville Indiana with her new born baby girl, Myrtilla
Leona who was born 8 Dec. 1863 in Hamilton Co. IN. Ty was serving with the
2nd. Ind. calvery & in Nashville TN.
Ty & Nellie had been married on 12 Aug 1862, Hamilton
Co, IN.