1862 October 9 "Eudora," near Leesburg, Va.

(Oct. 9th) Feel about same as did
yesterday. Pleasant morning.  Mr Braden is on the road
again today riding, after Mr Pusseys horse.  Dreamed
last night of my dearest Jennie & Florrie, If I only had
Rose here now would get her to interpret.  Mr Gregg was
up to see me before breakfast on his way to Hillsborough
(where there is a woolen factory) after some yarn for
socks; asked him to get me some.  He has returned
without being able to get any.  Winston, Mrs Pey-
-tons little boy 12 Mos. old is just learning to walk
and amuses us very much, by his wild endeavors.

Miss Lizzie has just brought me up the Baltimore
paper of 7th inst.  They claim victory over Price
at Corinth.  Report proceedings in Confed-
-erate Congress, on Lincolns Emancipation
act.  Retaliatory measures etc.  I read the
news to Miss L- who sat the afternoon with
me, I sitting up.  As I have found its hard
to concentrate my thought on reading to day
will amuse myself writing. – A description
of my room – On entering, you are struck with
the soft light which pervades the apartment,
caused by the protecting shade of beautiful trees
in front of the house & mellowed down by the
rich colored curtains with which the win-
-dows are draped.  The most prominent piece of
furniture is the bed being placed with the
head near the window, the foot near the door,
which – with its clean white sheets & coverlet,
& pile of pillows, contrasting well with the dark
rich wood of their supports – invites to re-
-freshing & luxurious slumbers.  The bureau
                                           
stands at the head of the bed, against the pier,
this with its marble top, and deep mahogany,
corresponds with the wash stand, with its beau-
-tiful supply of crockery, which stands on the
other side of the room opposite the left window.
Opposite the pier stands, my library of black
walnut, the top surmounted by that exquisite
Grecian painting,- described a few pages back,-
and whose shelves furnish a choice selection
of inviting literary matters.  There you’ll find
works of Ancient & Modern erudition, Philosophy,
& the sciences, The musical strains of Poetry, are
there side by side with the harsher clashing
of contending political factions, and the
mild, and healthy works on Religion & Truth, &
contrast strongly with the sickly, but alluring
volumes of Profanity & Fiction.- Near my bed is
placed, a mahogany stand, on which is con-
-stantly found, the beautiful little picture, before
alluded to of “Beatrice”: & is daily supplied by the
kind hands of Miss L- with a sweet little nose-

-gay in a tiny darling of a Bohemian glass
tumbler, not over 2 ½ inches high, which is
rendered more interesting by having been
brought from Bohemia by Miss L – The man-
-tel piece is ornamented by two pictures, one a
sketch in crayon by Mrs Peyton is really very
well executed, it is a winter scene & the other
an engraving of a Pointer dog, at a stand.  Two
Antique vases, & a statuette, complete the man-
-tel ornaments.  To appreciate the ample fire-
-place, imagine, a cold winters day, the blazing
logs piled up on the highly polished brass and-
-irons, singing songs, to the shovel & tongs, and
listening yourself to the whistling winter wind.
Ah!  then you’ll find beauty in the fireplace, &
perhaps comfort.  Before leaving my room I’ll
not forget to mention my armed rocking chair,
in which I am disposed while sitting up to med-
-itate & whose kind high back, softened by a com-
-fortable quilt, has so often supported my aching
head.  Your noiseless travel about the chamber will

be explained by a glance at the nicely carpeted
floor, So much for my pleasant room at Eudora-
I enjoyed a pleasant conversation this evening
with Miss L & Mrs P- feeling much better than
this morning.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150