Letter to John Maury Corbin, 1871

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards family news.

Language:

English.

Other descriptive data:

V.M.I. 20 Dec. 1871

My dear little grandson that's named John Maury Corbin, some of this letter is for Nana too but I send it to you because xmas is a coming-

You just ought to be here- we are having so much fun- Last night your Ma's chimney caught afire- F i a r F i a r! Como. Maury's house is afiar! The drums beat, the fife squeaked & the cadets came tumbling up- some with "guns" to shoot the robbers- some with buckets to quench the fire. Oh it was so nice, but the fire went out just so before they could ever get here- And [then] it's so cold the river is frozen- all the girls- and Jimmy Moore & Genl Pendleton and all the other little boys go a skating. They take lunch, and have picknick on the ice. `The boy' can skate & the littlest Johnson is the best skater of them all- [ ]. And then it's been snowing & rainy & hailing- and what do you think it did yesterday at dinner in the dining room- there was money shower and the flakes were GreenBacks! You and Nana ought to have been here for 'scrambling'. They went like soap bubbles- and so you had to catch them quick nobody could get more than one flakeand somebody saved these two for you two - not too and your Ma- She is to give you at least 10 cts out of it & Nanna 20 cts & Charlie 20 cts- for you to go down street by [yourselves] and buy just what you please.

She's to keep the rest

And do the best-

Can you write poetry?

Tell her your Aunt Eliza has been very poorly- is getting better. She hasn't been here since the day after we got back from Memphis.

I have been to see her once- walked- was laid up for a week part of the time unable to turn over in bed. Have sent for a carriage to go & see her this evening- She's afraid that Sally F. is going away from her & that helps to make her sick.

You all ought to be here these times- Your Uncle Charlie sent us some Blue wings- by the time they got here they had turned to Canvas Backs- they are so good!

Here comes somebody. A Merry Xmas to your Pa & Ma and sister & your own sweet little self. Who is Mat's sweetheart? I know Charlie's- Have you got one? What's her name?

Subjects:

Correspondence

Access and use