147
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1850
feel, bi.1t all the reality I do not yet realize ... These visitations are admonitions, which we ought not to disregard, and I will try and be ready for the summons which none can avoid, and all must expect. The joys which I experienced in the birth of a daughter were blemished with the sorrow of a Sister's death! You will find it painful, for yourself, when you reflect how you ought to demean yourself towards the family. I am confident that you will act right, but do not let your generous impulses carry you too far and get your feelings wounded. [The signature has been cut out, and that fact accounts for the mutilation noted. Across the writing of the main letter on next to the last page is the following postscript] : Give my love to all. Write to me where Sister A. is, and I will write to her. Give, or send to her and all that are hers, my true affection. I was happy to see Sam's reports. They were very fine. He is a noble Boy. Tell dear little Nannie that I love her & Mag, and little sister, all alike, and kiss the dear little fellows. Tell Mr. Johnson & all our good friends howda for me. Mother thought that I would be disappointed. Give her my love and tell her that I thought more about your safety than anything else on earth, and if I had any other wish it was subordinate to that! The fish I must get for Sam! 1 From Mrs. Margaret John's collection of Houston materials. 2 Mary Willie, General and Mrs. Houston's fourth child and third daugh- ter, was born April 9, 1850, at Huntsville, Texas. At Georgetown, Texas, on April 11, 1871, she was married to J. S. Morrow, a first cousin of J. C. S. Morrow, who married Nancy Elizabeth (Nannie), the eldest daughter, and who became the mother of Mrs. Margaret John. Mary Willie Houston Morrow died at Stamford, Texas, December 14, 1931. 3 Mr. Hatch was the overseer of Houston's farms. "He is a good soul and, no doubt, does the best he can, but the farm and the pigs and the cattle do not prosper as they should," wrote Mrs. Houston to her husband early in 1850. In fact, it seems that Mr. Hatch was a very inefficient farmer.
TO HENDERSON YOAKUM 1
Washington, 6th May, 1850 My Dear Colonel, This moment I have learned of the death of our old friend Sam Laughlin. On Saturday I heard that he was unwell and intended to visit him. Yesterday ·was a very wet or rainy day, and I did not go to see him. I now regret that I did not. He is to be buried at 4 o'clock to day. I intend to be
Powered by FlippingBook