one that has had to part. There are plenty more men
about here, and if you want a husband so badly, stop your crying and go
and find another." To these unfeeling words my mother made no reply. She
turned away in stoical silence, with a curl of that loathing scorn upon
her lips which swelled in her heart.

My father and mother never met again in this world. They kept up a
regular correspondence for years, and the most precious mementoes of my
existence are the faded old letters that he wrote, full of love, and
always hoping that the future would bring brighter days. In nearly every
letter is a message for me. "Tell my darling little Lizzie," he writes,
"to be a good girl, and to learn her book. Kiss her for me, and tell her
that I will come to see her some day." Thus he wrote time and again, but
he never came. He lived in hope, but died without ever seeing his wife
and child.

I note a few extracts from one of my father's letters to my mother,
following copy literally:

"SHELBYVILE, Sept. 6, 1833.

"MRS. AGNES HOBBS

"Dear Wife: My dear biloved wife I am more than glad to meet
with opportun[i]ty writee thes few lines to you by my
Mistress who ar now about starterng to virginia, and sevl
others of my old friends are with her; in compeney Mrs. Ann
Rus the wife of master Thos Rus and Dan Woodiard and his
family and I am very sorry that I havn the chance to go with
them as I feele Determid to see you If life last again. I am
now here and out at this pleace so I am not abble to get of
at this time. I am write well and hearty and all the rest of
masters family. I heard this eveng by Mistress that ar just
from theree all sends love to you and all my old frends. I am
a living in a town called Shelbyville and I have wrote a
greate many letters since Ive beene here and almost been
reeady to my selfe that its out of the question to write any
more at tall: my dear wife I dont feeld no whys like giving
out writing to you as yet and I hope when you get this letter
that you be Inncougege to write me a letter. I am well
satisfied at my living at this place I am a making money for
my own benifit and I hope that its to yours also If I live to
see Nexct year I shall heve my own time from master by giving
him 100 and twenty Dollars a year and I thinke I shall be
doing good bisness at that and heve something more thean all
that. I hop