WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1838
184
To ANNA RAGUET City of Houston, 12th January, 1838.
My fair Friend: Long ere this time I had anticipated the pleasure of tendering to you the felicitations of the season in the domestic circle of all the family of your Father, expecting the boys have returned. False rumors have detained Dr. Irion, Judge Wright and myself until we are fearfully impatient of delay. I did not credit the reports from the West, but, never- theless, they prevented my travelling East; nor was I willing to excite the citizens nor call them from their homey [sic] toil. I can only say to you that we.hope to leave for Old Nacogdoches (God bless it) so soon as we can-probably in some eight days. When I can once reach there and get to Egeria, I may be induced to think that I can at some period "die appie." Here our Christmas has passed but without much fuss. One Ball, quite decent, was all our gaity and mirth. A party of Gen- tlemen intend going to the Bay on day after tomorrow to obtain oysters, oranges, etc., etc. I have made a splendid purchase of Cedar Point and am desirous to see it and pass over it. I have not seen it, and I desire to do so previous to making improve- ments in the East. Dr. Irion declares it is the only Eden on Earth !-except that he saw no Eve in the beautiful Garden! You are not aware of the terrible consternation which has been pro- duced here by a recent report that ere this your hand and faith were both plighted. The doctor has ensconced himself in his dig- nity and can but rarely be seen. As for some other friends, they have to wear the thorn in the heart and hope with resignation for the best! !! We always speak and think piously in the midst of deepest affliction!! Now for the place and the people where I am yet fated to pass some eleven months in petty splendor and magnifi- cent misery. No place has ever within my knowledge improved as this has. I presume that not less than one hundred souls arrive by sea each week that passes, and generally of the better sort of folks-bringing wealth, worth and intelligence into the country. The Cabinet, being all Batchelors or widowers but one, have been somewhat deranged by the arrival of a rich and pretty widow from Alabama-young, too, and only worth "a hundred thou." Twig that? I will not tell you her name, but she has come to settle in the country-she has two brothers on the Brazos. I once saw her at a distance, but cou'd not determine
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