Plummer Papers

To Children From Mary K Henderson

German Town paid 25 February 13 47
Mr. William L. Henderson
Cedarville P.O.
Washington County Virginia
Retirement February 10th

My Beloved Children

being entirely alone this morning I embrace it as a favorable opportunity to write to my much loved sons. Mary is at Lockey Anns Paulina and Bennetta at Rachel ? Father is out in the new growthand is busily engaged burning brush. Rachel left us on Tuesday last for her own home. They are living between Mr. Rutherford and Mr. Perkins so that your sisters are within half mile of each other. Poor Lack has been sick a great deal this eventin as we have a prspect of nonsettled weather I am in hopes his health will be better Let grows finely and is a most interesting little fellow every stranger that sees him remarks his fine forehead and lovely black eyes. R Means father has bought Mr. Winfres place and will move to it next week he has a very interesting son a young man about nineteen years old and I know you will be pleased to hear of it as they will be such near neighbours that you will no doubt be intimate friends when you return.

Tell Molly Branch that I intend him for her Because he has also a little daughter aged ten years but considerably larger than Paulina. Dr. Stout has rented out his place in Germantown and moved up within two miles of Cederville. Mr. McNutt has also moved up there. Richard Eldridge is living at Fumber place and as Mr. Runford is living in Brookers new house so you perceive that our society is improving. The roads are so bad that we are *under the necessity of keeping close quarters. I have so far been to see Aunt McKinney but once since your Father returned from Virginia And in that time have to been to see Betsy Wilson.

Dr. McKinney expects to bring his family to his farm this spring and quit his practice of medicine. Samuel Mc is in Jackson and has a very flourishing school his family are boarding at Mr. Raften his wife is sickly and much dissatisfied she wished to remain in Jackson with him but his mother thought it would be to expensive therefore poor creature she is separated from her husband and her parents for the sake of filthy lucre John Ledbetter is married to Miss Suggs he is nineteen and she fifteen. Squire Ledbetter has found another wife a sister of Mrs Porncliure he remarried a widower about sure months

your cousin Edward Sanders and his wife has separated I believe her father has petitioned for a divorce. Furbin has quit teaching and preaching and turned Lawyer

the measles has prevailed to some extent in this country we have thus far escaped them

Arthur Henderson has spent some week with us this winter he is a smart young man, but one of the most degraded being on earth he is a drunkard and liar and also a Mrothing massen take warning from him my dear sons and avoid wild company and the bottle as you would a rattlesnake for rather would I see you both in your graves then see you such an outcast from society as he is - the good and virtuous avoid him whenever they can I have given up all hope of his reformation and think that the sooner he dies the better.

We were much gratified to receive a letter for Brother Collen giving a favorable account of both of you. Continue to merit the appreciation of your teachers my sonns Children for nothing reconciles me so much to your absence as to hear of your * well doing. I was sorry my Dear little Con got angry at his Aunt Betty and would not go to see her remember my dear that she is mothers only sister an that I love her dearly ad would be very much hurt for one of my sons to do anything to hurt her feelings. I know your Aunt would do as much to make you happy as anybody in Virginia and her your interest as much at heart go to see her Con an if you have done anything to hurt her feelings ask her pardon and for my sake do not be at bancarace with my dear sister or brothers and do not let little matters incite you so much, remember that you must learn to bear and forbear do not expect to get though this life without many difficulties for if you do you will find yourself mistaken and recollect that I have always taught you to have communion with few - be intimate with one, deal justly with all and speak evil of none - this counsel and no doubt you will get along peaceably your playmates relations and all.

As I am not in the habit of writing often I begin to feel weary. Therefore will bring my letter to close, praying Heaven to protect and bless my darling children and permit us to meet agin in this life -

farewell
Your Mother
Mary K. Henderson

Contributed by Sylvi

University of Texas at Arlington University Libraries Special Collections
Collection: Plummer Papers
Location: GA10
Caption: 1843-1849