1862 January 6 Richmond

My Dear Phil[lip Barraud Cabell]

Your note to Jennie was
not received till Saturday morning at Bolling
Island where we then were, and had first to
be forwarded to us from Richmond, and we hasten
to express the interest and sympathy both of us
feel on the occasion tho' before the end I'm afraid
my writing will grow illegible as I am suffering
from a sprained wrist so swollen & stiff, that it is
only with the greatest pain I can write--I was very
much relieved & thankful to hear that the dread-
ful hour was over and that Miss Pink was safely
through it--I had thought very often of the anxiety
which must be oppressing you and and am truly re-
joiced that you are now relieved completely. I cannot
help noting that you are too despondent in say-
ing that your "Little Blossom" will suffer for life
from her little foot: she i[s] so young I trust she
may outgrow it and under careful treatment be-
come free from all lameness, as I have known

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of several similar cases being completely cured;
but I am grieved she begins the world with any
mischance, even though time shall free her from
it. My mother agrees with me in thinking that

that[sic] the infirmity is not occasioned by the fall I
recollect in Richmond, and my mother's reason
for thinking so is she says "her certainty that had
the fall been followed by any consequences of that
sort, they would have been infinitely more fatal."
Is little Blossom most like her mother or
you? Louisa showed us the little hair which we
all though very luxurious and pretty. I am glad
she is such a fine healthy child, and I make no
doubt that even if it should please God never to
fully remove its little deficiency, He will so order
all things as to make its being a great happiness & blessing
to herself & to you all--With love to Miss Pink
and hopes for her speedy restoration to health, I am as
ever Yours very sincerely
Alexander Q Holladay
Please let us hear from you whenever convenient, I
will write again when my hand is well

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Dear Mr Cabell
Alix has written you quite a long letter
but I must add a few lines for to thank
you for your kind note which I
was very glad to receive and to tell you
that I am very glad to hear of the birth
of your little girl and of Pinks safety
I am very sorry to hear there should be
any defect about the little baby but when
you think how much worse it might
have been and how many terrible afflictions
others have suffered from you have cause
to be thankful and then I hope that
it may not be as bad as you imagine
and that the little one will outgrow it
but if it should not please God to remove
its affliction defect every one will love it
all the more. I am very sorry Pink should
have suffered so much and with love
to her and kind regards to the rest of

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your family believe me ever yours sincerely
V.[?]R.[?]H.

MSS 38-111