Abbeville
Jan
11, 1858
Brother
William
I was very much gratified by the receipt of your letter of
December, 25 and pleased
to hear that you anticipated a Merry Christmas.
I hope that all your pleasant anticipation were more than realized and
that you found Miss Herman both pretty and agreeable.
I would have answered your letter immediately but was so much engaged enjoying myself
that I really had not time. We
had the merriest Christmas that I have
ever spent. I will give you an account
if it & let you judge for yourself.
In the first place Alex
Weir invited some six or seven young ladies from Pendleton & Anderson to
spend Christmas holiday at his house, all of whom came down; as of
course such an I influx pretty young ladies created quite an excitement in our
usually quiet town.
These ladies having arrived On Monday before Christmas,
Weir, gave then a party the next night (Tuesday). At said party I was glad to see our friends,
Don Mc Laughlin who came up to see about forming a partnership with Dave Gordon,
in the Drug Store. I do not know what
was the result of his visit. The next
night (Wednesday) there was a very pleasant party at Mrs. White’s at which Don
was also present.
The
next Thursday night there was a hot supper given by the ladies of the Episcopal
Church. On Friday night a party
at Mrs Miller’s which I did not attend, having been invited to another in the
county before her invitations were sent out.
On Friday morning, Dolph Williams and myself started for Ros Tatum’s to
attend an affair at Capt Portlow’s about half a mile from Tatum’s, John Portlow,
whom I expect you recollect having seen at Tatum’s when we were there, having
married the night before. We arrived at Tatum’s about fifteen minutes
after four, having driven over about as muddy roads as you can and found him
& five other young men disposed as follows, two in bed, one on the lounge
& the other three over a pitcher of delicious punch which you may well
suppose was very refreshing to we way worn travelers.
Having incorporated
ourselves with a few glasses of the fragrant beverage rested awhile, we
put ourselves in readiness for the party.
On our arrival at the party we found quite a number of the bright eyed rose cheeked lasses of
the country interspersed with a few jewels from Georgia. Having passed
the evening in conversation, music & dancing we broke up at a late hour
every seeming much pleased. Our party
reached Tatum’s again between 1 & 2 o’clock when we again called the pitcher into requisition &
soon had ½ gallon of steaming, fragrant care dispelling punch to which I assume
you (if assurance be needed) we did ample justice. Having restore the waste caused by the
exertions at the party we all retired at an early hour (5 ½ o’clock) to our
virtuous couches. We rose the next day bright as
larks & went over to Portlow’s for breakfast & after having thoroughly
discussed the Turkey hash we adjourned to the parlor for a game of Euchre whist
was kept up till we began to feel quite sleepy & thirsty when we again returned
to Tatum’s & satisfied thirst, hunger & drowsiness. Sunday we
spent very pleasantly in Georgia & started bright & early Monday
morning for home in order to be there Monday night to a party given by the
young men & of whom we were managers.
After again trapping through the mud all day we arrived at home about
sun down. Having with some difficulty
removed the mud from us & put on clean shirts we once more felt right side
up & proceeded to the Marshall House when we had one of the finest parties
it has ever been my fortune to attend. The next day I was at a dining
party till after sun down & a party again at night which wound up my
Christmas festivities & as you may imagine pretty nearly wound me up. I am very sorry that I will be unable to come
to Brunswick during the “Grand Regattas” as I will be as busy as bee until
May. Fraser Livingston marries the day
after tomorrow so that he will alas be unable to come. He marries Miss Fannie McCain. Bill is worse off than either of us being
over head & ears in love & I think will only get out by a kick. He is after Miss Clara Kilpatrick & is
now I think gone to Pendleton. Jim
Martin marries Miss Abrams on the 26th this month. Eph Power was to have been married tomorrow
morning to Miss Kate Giles but
the Old Squire has “over sot the whole affair”.
It seems that the Squire objected at first but finally gave his consent
(being told by his daughter that she was determined to marry him), to their
marriage but would not give them a party. The consequently determined to marry tomorrow
morning & proceed immediately to Cokesbury where his mother was to give
them a party. The arrangements were all
made accordingly, the party in course of preparation, invitations went out
& when alas the Old Squire calls the whole family together, Sons &
sons-in-law, daughters & daughters-in-law to consult upon the matter the
result of whose deliberations were that it could not be, Poor Eph I am sorry
for him but he has the consolation
that he not the only man who has been treated in that way. I believe I have given you all the news
afloat about our muddy town.
We are all well at present & have been so except myself. I was quite sick the week before Christmas
with fever & have been suffering very much for a week past with a
large boil on my neck produced by a blister which the Dr. applied when I was
sick. It has got a great deal better but
not entirely well yet. I wish you would
write to Wallace about the hire of Lewis for the two months that he was with Drummond. It would be very acceptable at this time when money is as scarce as
hen’s teeth.
Col
Marshall made a final settlement of father’s personal Estate on Friday least. It resulted better than he anticipated having
amounted to a thousand dollars more than he expected. The share
of each distributer is $2,067.10 hence there is to you deducting your note
& interest ($1552.68) which amounts (514.42). We had a very heavy rain last night which
continued with some abatement nearly all the but the sun has at least come
forth & is now shining quite warmly,
too much so I am afraid to keep clear.
Write soon & tell me how you enjoyed your Christmas visit.
Yours truly
Stephen
C. DeBruhl
