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Letter from Walter Reed to Emilie B. Lawrence, August 30, 1875 | |
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It is Monday after- |
 | cause for my suppositions. Nev- ertheless, I am not sorry that for a time, at least, I did believe my suppositions true, since it afforded me all opportunity of disclosing my [true] frame of mind, and of telling you how very dear you disclosure of the source of your anxiety, I will wait till we chance to shake hands again. You ask, how it is possible for you to trust me implicitly when, each day, "our trusts are be- trayed", etc. Well, my pretty, little "B.", I understand you perfectly, I think- It is hard; it is impossi- ble to put such complete con- fidence in another; & we are apt to be [the more] cautious just in the proportion that the bretray- |
 | al of that confidence afflict us. This is right: this is human. I ask no more than your "partial" confidence. It shall [be] my task to make myself wholly worthy of it- Did you know my heart as I do, my darling, not a ripple would disturb the tranquillity of your thoughts. Don't complain of a "dearth" of letters- You cannot ex- pect me, my little sweetheart, to be equal to writing four, every week. Such a prodigious effort would soon exhaust all my ideas. In fact, I don't think that I have, as yet, quite recovered from that particular week's work -- but of this you shall be the judge. Don't forget that one |
 | of my letters, written last week, was equal to three, since it was written on three distinct days, giving you a complete synopsis of the week's events, together with my various moods, and containing not less than 12 long pages! So that, by examining into the matter a little more closely, you easily perceive that you really did receive four letters! I hear you exclaim; "how very plain! how logical! how well this accords with many prior statements"! To which I modestly reply; "throw no bouquets, if you please"! Before I forget it, permit me, with many as- severations of thanks, to re- turn my compliments for the very accurate drawing description of Willet's Point, |
 | which you were so kind as to enclose. The gentleman I recognized as an exact like- ness of myself -- though a little flattered, which shows me very clearly that you lean towards my side. The carpet-bag I did not admire, since mine is really a better one. The mus- quitoes! what shall I say! Accept the acknowledg of a grateful heart- They were so lifelike & perfect! How could you reproduce them so accurately! The one [perched] on the fence, I recognized, at once-! How could I ever for- get one who had been so very near to me! My tears I could not restrain! After wrapping my mosquito-net- ting securely about my head |
 | I sat & watched him through its meshes for quite a time- And as I beheld his calm, honest brow, my tears fell thick and fast- So strongly does friendship sway our better nature! Again, I thank you, for this classical painting! Remember that the future is before you, & let you motto be "excelsior"! As I narrated the events of a visit I made, in my last letter, let me tell you, in this one, something of a sailing excursion that I recently took part in. Last saturday, fore- noon, Miss Braddish & her Brother drove over to the Post & extended a kind invitation to Dr Byrne & myself to accompany them on a sailing party, the same |
 | afternoon- We accepted, & punct- ually at 2 o'clock, we jumped into our ambulance & were soon at the residence of the young lady renthesis, let me say that Mr Braddish is a gentleman of considerable property, being worth something over a mil- lion; has an elegant residence, [with] beautifully laid out yard, sit- uated right on Long Island sound- owns fine horses & carriages, and has his own sailing yacht- In a word, is a man of wealth & spend his time just as he pleases.) We found awaiting our arrival the following ladies & gentlemen; Miss Emilie Moriac, Miss Eddy, Miss Bowne, & a certain spinster whose name I have forgotten; Mr |
 | Bowne, Mr Parsons & Mr Mendellson- Mr Braddish, son & daughter were also among the mumber; so that, all told, we were thirteen souls. Passing down a beautifully turfed em- bankment leading from the house to the water's edge, we were soon embarked, & with a goodly spread of canvass & a propitious breeze, over the bleu waters of the Sound. Our bark was a gallant one and our companions very pleasant & vi- vacious- It fell to my lot to enter- tain Miss Emilie Moriac; and whether the name inspired me or not, certain it is that my tongue was never more busy- I actually astonished myself. After sailing about 10 miles, the time being spent in pleasant conversation & singing, & having witnessed a most enchanting sun-set, we turned our barked home- ward, arriving about 8 P.M. As I wended my way to my Post, I could but think how trifling was the pleas- ure of an evening thus spent, compared with the happiness of one moment at your side- Believe me, ever your fond & devoted |