[Letter of 1866 January 16]

[Letter of 1866 January 16]

1866-01-16

Husband and wife

African American families

African Americans -- 19th century

African American Christians (Disciples of Christ)

Wiley, Edward A. [recipient]

image/jp2

Correspondence

This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. For access to the original letter or high-resolution reproduction, please contact the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).

Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

William Still Collection

Blockson manuscripts

William Still Collection

Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Libraries

blockson@temple.edu

BMS010X0035

Phila ,, Jan 16th ‘66/ My Dear Edward,/ Your letter came/ to hand this afternoon and really/ so enthusiastic was your commen/cement of it that until I had/ read on a few lines I was almost/ breathless. I can well imagine your/ [ardor?] having known something o/f your feelings in this respect. I/ pray you keep calm for you/ know the danger which you are/ likely to incur [there from?]. I too wish/ that you were prepared for the great/ and glorious work which you so/ desire to enter upon. I wish the/ time will soon come when your/ hopes may be realized. Have you/ heard from your mother lately?/ I am truly glad that you called/ on Miss Hudson and that she/ seems interested don’t let her be/ otherwise. I hoped to correspond with/ her and as is my custom bring the sub-/ject about but she took good care/ not to answer my letter and I/ wrote no more. She is one who has/ been associated with wild, and reckless/ girls, and boys of her own age; reared/ in a home where but one of the/ parents is a Christian and that the/ mother which of course is worse than/ though neither had been Christians. Worse/ because the one who professes to love/ Jesus cannot love the things pleasing/ to the [worldly?] minded and there is neces/sarily two [wads presented?] to the child/ the onee which the father has taken/ or the other; whereas if both were/ Christians their united influence/ might be the means of leading that/ soul to a haven rest. We are all/ well myself being about the worst off/ my chief complaint is sleepiness/ [Page 3] I think. All send their compli/ments. or rather Papa sends his and/ I send for the other folks. Tomorrow/ is to be a grand day with the [Anti/ -Havery?] folks of course I shall be/ on hand they are going to hold/ a convention and in the ev’ning/ a large festival at which time a/ brass band is to be in attendance be-/sides a group of ladies who are/ to sing. I wish you could be here/ if for nothing else than to see/ the manner in which our [Anti/ Havery?] folks conduct their affairs/ truly every thing[sic] is done up in. “decency and order.” I shall have/ to chide you if you persist in/ writing just before school time and/ then be obliged to [hurry?]so that you/ leave out some words or letters for/ I think this must be your reason/ for so doing. Remember me to/ [Page 4] Mr Rossers family. Mrs Davis Mrs/ Harris and all inquiring friends/ [The Thomas’?] Miss Francis Miss/ Hardson if you see her again/ and every body[sic]./ I would try to spin out more/ but really I am so tired and sleepy/ I cant keep my eyes open hardly/ probably you think you will/ turn the tables and chide me for/ sleepiness I will reply this is/ the first time I think that I have/ excused myself for a short epis-/tle and assuredly this is not/ a short one./ Ever Yours./ Carrie./