| Title: | A. A. Longstreet, Fairview, to Isabella Allen, New York. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3599 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | longstreet, a. a/220 |
| Year | 1838 |
| Sender | Longstreet, A.A. |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | upper-middle class housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Fairview, Georgia, USA |
| Destination | New York, USA |
| Recipient | Allen, Isabella |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D1558/1/2/42: Presented by the late F.D. Campbell Allen Esq., 15London Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9803625 |
| Date | 10/03/1838 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 27:03:98. |
| Word Count | 1974 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Fairview. Monday March 10th, 13th, 18th or 19th 1839. Instead, My Dear Mrs Allen, of wearing such an elongated countenance upon discovering this epistle comes neither from "Rosa or Eliza" you should congratulate yourself that I have not tormented you before. For the last three weeks I have been obliged to lock up pens, ink &c for whenever writing materials caught my eye I found myself involuntarily scribbling to you. Perhaps you may be tempted to say, and why delay so long? because you did not once ask me to write in your letter. But Mr Allen, who has more of the "milk of human kindness" in his composition, (as I often told you) than his sapient help-mate can boast of, very kindly said in his last letter that you hoped to receive a reply to yours. For some time after you left I was inconsolable for I could not refrain from constantly scouring to the irreparable loss I had sustained; in short, to make a beautiful simile, I went about like Noah's "Unconsolate Widow". One of my most poignant regrets, which "stang like a scorpion and bit like an adder" was, that I had not suffered myself to be weighed when you so ardently desired it, I consequently went next day to Mr. Dunlop's, like a condemned criminal, and found that between fifteen and one hundred and fifty was my exact weight in pounds. Louisa, Harriet and myself devote one hour to intellectual pursuits daily; you would be astonished to hear what rapid strides we are making in historic love. Every bright blue sky I look upon recalls you forcibly to my mind, every cloudy day brings our happy childhood at Larne to my imagination, every rainy day compels me to think of the memorable rain through North Carolina so that between the clear, cloudy and rainy days, I think of naught save you, three thirds of the nights also are devoted to you and I only fill up the intersions with sleep and now and again a truant thought to Dick L[uirnling?]. If you are not thinking too much of home and could take a peep at Fairview today I am sure you would say "how beautiful!!!" The peach, plum, and jasmine are in bloom, Christopher Columbus is warbling forth his sweetest strains and last but not least the writer looks peculiarly interesting for she has her auburn ringlets arranged just as you admire them. You may perhaps recollect a small wild flower which Louisa gave you that was put in a wineglass. I have it yet in the same place you left it and whenever I feel like I was most beginning to think of forgetting you I turn to that, as the traveller does to the oasis of the desert and love and hope remain, I cannot refrain from watering it sometimes with my tears as the chilling saddening thought comes over me, that we may never meet again. Oswell sends a kiss to you (would that I could imprint it) and says he wishes you would come back as he has nobody to tickle him now, neither have I. Mrs Brysons health has improved very much since you left she enquires always particularly after you, and desires always to be remembered to you so also does Mrs Moore and Mrs Clarke. Mr Robert C is "despised and requited" by all the ladies sans exception. We moved to town the week Mr Buckingham lectured and were all delighted with him. I fondly hoped that I might be successful in catching some beau worth having. I threw out my nets accordingly but only one presented himself and he was such a little mite of a creature that I turned up my olfactories at him, ergo he made his bow and exit. So that I have returned to the hill still Miss L. [Longstreet?] and likely to continue so till my sick tall missionary comes this way. You may perhaps smile and think my missionary notions only the result of a fertile imagination, but I as earnestly hope and pray that I may become one at some period of my life as I hope to see you if not in this, in that better world "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest". Believe me, Dear Mrs Allen, I have more serious thoughts than you would imagine, my hilarity, levity, buoyant spirits are daily, hourly sources of regret and sins to be repented of but I have so much of old Adam in my nature that it seems impossible to surrender this my besetting sin. Through the papers I ve [I've ?] see the death of Miss C. Knowles mentioned which is to be regretted if we ought to regret that another redeemed spirit has been added to the choir above. Nothing humbles me more than the death of friends for I hear as it were their voices from the grass saying "be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Sin of man cometh." Aunt Smith has been indisposed for a day or two but has recovered again she and all the family send love to you and respects to Mr Allen. I hope you are not beginning to feel tired reading if you are I am sorry for I am not weary writing yet so turn over. Hannah and myself expect to visit Charleston, where I hope we will meet with a better reception than you did. I regret very much you were so crowded. I was, as you seemed to imagine, perfectly horrified at the idea of your visit to the ball and for the space of a second and a half was speechless. But seriously I wish you could have gone so that you might see some of the belles and beauty of the matchless "Queen of the South" and the more do I regret it as you were presented by cold. We will leave next week and remain about a month; don't let that prevent you from writing, for you must be sure to send a letter before you leave and direct it for this place. Elizabeth will leave in three weeks for France as Dr Paul and wife have offered to take her, she will be absent until the fall we will all feel her loss keenly. Han [Hannah?] and I especially. Knowing you take a deep interest in all the members of the Longstreet family, to omit any would be an unpardonable fault, consequently Emma and our, red hair Brother the pride of the house will stay at the cottage with Aunt Adams this summer and I prognosticate forget the little knowledge they have acquired during the winter. I understand "Our young Friend" was seen in the stage hastening to Belfast singing the following words with emphasis. If ever I be so very lucky As for to get back to my own home Neither Texas, Georgia or Kentucky Shall ever make me again roam. Ooh St Patrick ye. ye. I am willing to think that he was ready to sacrifice every thing for rhyme which was his only object for putting Texas before Our noble "free and enlightened" State. I have not seen the Lizard family since you left. Aunt Campbell will have to answer for the sin of destroying their habitation as she had the tree cut down a few days since. Another mocking bird was caught the week you left, I called it Isabella not so much after the patroness of Columbus as for a Dear Friend of mine. Like its illustrious namesake it ate nothing and drank less but seemed to pine for its native soil after living in this way it became defunct and the verdict was brought in by the coroners namely died of voluntary starvation and involuntary captivity. I have not heard "Fly to the desert" since you left no do I desire to until I hear you again. I have become wonderfully attached to the "Elegy in a Country Churchyard" and my only reason is that Lichquer Caden loved it too. Miss Larmour spent last week in Augusta. I think I would like her better were she less taciturn. I have only room on this page to ask how your "R.J." and Cairngraigham are? and if any of your birds have flown away yet. When you go home do ask Miss Porter to correspond with me, Have you finished her gloves? Present my regards to you Peri and Meri when you see them. Compliments to "Pig Wig" and Mr Porter. Compounded regards to Rosa, Doubled and twisted remembrance to Eliza. Kisses to the "Dear Dog" and don't forget Sheridan. Ask Elizabeth Thompson and Mary Erquart to come and see me, Tell Mrs Wilson to send me some of the latest fashions of capes and buy from Miss Armstrong a ribbon for me, beg Mrs Workman to make a Lord and despatch it immediately. Say to Mary, Jimmy, David, Thomas and Charley and all the rest of the white negroes that I have not forgotten them; all the black ones here, send black love to you from Old Cloe down to Ned. I found a little scrap of muslin of yours and the piece cut from your cape both of which I have put with Mr Allens buttons, the pin, orange flowers hair-oil and countless other momentos among which is Mrs Porters wedding belt (part of it rather). Ask "Rosa" to send a bit of her cake to dream on, I suppose Kate (strange to tell I've forgotten her surname but I'll ask Mr Allen to write it for me and send it back by the express mail as I know you will not) will be the manufactures of the fabric. I understand when you get home your house kitchen &c. will be a model for others, Perhaps I may come our [over ?]some of these days to try your potato puddings. (I was just on the point of adding if you promise not to show me the door but I won't do it for I am sure you will secure your hospitality). It would be impossible for imagination to portray or fancy to picture a more industrious individual than I have become since you the personification of idleness have been removed. I will have enmeasurate size almost hemmed one side of a kerchief, liked to have made a cap for Aunt and nearly completed a childs knit glove. I must really make a multiplicity of excuses for daring to send you, Dear Eaden, such a laconic epistle but I hear there are half a dozen young gentlemen down stairs must therefore tear myself away from lore and thee to see what these youths can want with me. Aunt sends love to you and Mr Allen to which the whole family add theirs. And now Dearest I must say, Farewell. When you have nothing else to do will you think and write sometimes to one who though distant can never forget you? Your ever fondly attached Aplisa. This seems to be the last link that connects us together and fair would I linger a little longer and write another and another line but time tells me I must send my letter this afternoon if I want it perused in America and as I am quite sure it is not fit for Ireland I will close. Five times have I attempted to put the seal in, but found I could not I will now be obliged not for want of ideas (such as they are) for they seem to flow faster and thicker as I approach the close but for room I've only space to say yours till tomorrow A. A. Longstreet x x x x x x x x tomorrow hath never yet, Or any being rose or set. |
