To: [Eleanor Wallace?]
[Newtownards?]
[County Down?]
[Ireland?]
From: [Mrs?] A. [Adeline?] E. Clarke
[Augusta?]
[Georgia?]
[U.S.A.?]
June 6 1849
Sand Hills June 6th 1849
My Dearest Cousin
It would be useless for me to attempt
to Describe to you my feelings on the Reception of your
most affectionate letter. I felt that I was not left
altogether desolate and alone in the World that there was
still some near and Dear Relatives left Who sometimes thought
of me For you are aware My Dear Cousin I Was an only child of
A Widowed Mother who doated [doted?] on me; and Who Was
almost afraid for the Winds of Heaven to blow upon me
for I was asickly [a sickly?] and delicate Child from my Infancy
until I was nearly gorwn [grown?] and when I Married Mr
Clarke I had then two to spoil me instead of one for
he was as bad in that respect as My Poor Mother but Ah
if I had but known it then it was only heaping up trouble
on top of the trouble for me; for when I was deprived of
them both which happened 4 years ago this Month think
you not I must have felt desolate indeed; and only 6
Months between their Deaths, it was a dark and terible [terrible?]
day to me; When I lost my two best Friends, indeed
I thought I could never live through it but the Lord is
Kind and good, he has spared me until the present
time: for I was left with a large Family; I have been the
Mother of 12 Children; 4 of them are safely housed
in their Heavenly Father's Kingdom. I will now try to
give you a description of my Family as you have expressed
a wish to hear particulary about them. My oldest son
John Clarke will be 24 years of Age in July he is a
Clerk in Mr John Bones Hardware Store and has been with
him for the last 5 years. Although he is my Child I can
with all truth say he is as steady as a Rock and
has been so since his Childhood, My poor Mother and me
used to call him the Parson when he was a little fellow
just growing up; he was so sedate and quiet. My
next is Fanny; She has been Married a Year this
Month to a Mr. Daniel, a Planter who lives about
100 & 20 [120?] Miles by Railroad from me. I can hear every
other day from her if necessary which makes it very
pleasant; although I miss her very much; as she
was the only Female Companion I had in the
House with me. Thomas Moore is My 3rd; he is
named for My Dear Father; he is 21; he is also in a
Hardware Store as clerk. My 4 [4th?] is a Boy about 16
he is at school on the Sandhills where We live
We call him Robert Campbell for a Friend of his
Fathers. I have 4 little Girls. the oldest is only
10 years of age; We call her Mary Bones; for Mrs
John Bones. The next is Eleanor Jane; who my
Mother named for some of her Irish Relatives. The
3d [3rd?] is Sarah Adger; and the 4 [4th?] is my Baby as
I call her; her name is Adeline Samuel; for her
Dear Father & Myself as we never had a child named
for either of us. She was Born 5 Months after My
Dear Husband was laid in his Grave. I call her my
little Child of Affliction. She is a great Pet with us
all. So you see My Dear Cousin I have great Responsibilities
resting on me. The charge of so large a Family; and so
many young Children; But I put my trust in Him
who has promised in His Holy Word that those who
put their trust in Him; He will not foresake: that He
Will be a Father to the Fatherless and the Widows Friend
Precious Promises I cling to them. And The Death of
My Dear Uncle John Moore; that was a severe trial
to me; for he was all the Father I ever Knew being
deprived of mine before my Eyes wer [were?] opened on
the light of this World He died just 6 Months
after My Dear Mother; so you can see I was deprived of
all in a Short time of each other. Aunt Eliza Moore
has a fine Family around her. her oldest son Henry
has taken his Fathers Place in the Store and the
next son John Bones is with him. Cousin Lizze [Lizzie?]
is Married to a Mr William Walton; a very fine
Pious young Man a Lawyer. She appears to be very happy
indeed. The second Daughter Martha is als [also?] a very
fine Girl. I expect she will soon be Married if
a great many Beaux is any Sign; for she has a
plenty of them. Her next 2 Daughters Fanny & Mary
Jane are very fine Girls. Miss Hannah Longstreet is going
to accompany Mr & Mrs Bones to Ireland; she has been
very unwell lately, and looks very delicate. I think
the trip will be of great Service to her; Oh I often wish
it was only in my Power to Pay you all a Visit; but
that can never be; and without some of you Visit this
part of the Country. I am afraid I shall never have
that Pleasure; But Dearest Cousin if we Should
never meet this side of the Grave; I trust we may all
meet in that better World where parting will be no more
and where all tears shall be Wiped from our Eyes. You
all feel very near and Dear to me; although seperated [separated?]
at such a Distance. I often think of you and feel what
would I give could I but see you all; But there is one
comfort left us; we can communicate With each other
by letter and I shall look forward With great Pleasure
in hopes of receiving a long letter from you soon
Do My Dear Cousin write me a long letter and tell me
all about your own Family. it will all be interesting
and gratifying to me. Do let me know if your Dear
Mother was acquainted with My Mother and what relation
they were to each other. You wanted to know if I
could tell you anything about Uncle Isaac Moores Widow
I am sorry it is not in my Power I have heard nothing
about her of late years. And Now My Dear Cousin I
must bid you Farewell. hoping that our Correspondence will be
continued. My Family all join me in Love to you and your
Parents
I remain your Affectionate Cousin A [Adeline?] E Clarke
