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Letter from Walter Reed to Emilie B. Lawrence, March 28, 1876

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Willet's Point, N.Y.H.
March 28th 76.
My own precious E.;

    I never
like to write a letter, my little
angel, when I feel a little
out of sorts; because I
am [apt] to produce nought that
will entertain and much
that will appear dull & in-
sipid, besides a tendency
to reflect a shadow of
gloom over all- Perhaps,
you would inquire as
to the cause of my ill-hu-
mor- well it's all owing to
the fact that I am a
so-called "doctor", and have

 
under treatment a few
obstreparous patients-
You have said, my dar-
ling, that a doctor's life
is a horrid one, & you might
add, in many respects, the
most horrid life that can be
possibly led- I know I per-
mit my sensibility to be-
come too acute but really
if I had my life to live over
again, I'd never be a doctor.
Not that I would have sui-
ted any other profession,
for I am honest enough
to confess that I have met
with more success in my
profession that I should
ever have claimed in any
 
other pursuit of life;
but I would have escaped
a few annoyances & dis-
plays of ingratitude-
I was bound to say this
much & now that I have
delivered my opinion, I
feel very much better &
will proceed with my letter
to my own sweet Emilie
just as a clear headed
man should do- You
perceive that it takes [but]
a very little time for the
shower to pass over &
leave the sky bright- Kind
of April weather; perhaps
owing to the fact that
 
the said month of sun-
shine & shadows (I meant
to say showers,) is almost here-
Just to think that just one
month ago, to-day, to the very
hour & minute & second, I
was in Murfreesboro, waiting
for the arrival of three o'clk,
when I should see my dar-
ling sweet-heart! Doesn't the
time pass almost like a
dream? One month nearer
my darling Emilie! Oh! it
makes my heart beat hap-
pily & quickly! And soon
it will be two months &
then three, but I can go no
farther, or I shall be una-
ble to contain my joy!
 
The main topic of conver-
sation & interest, at the Post,
just at present, is the near
approach of a dramatic
performance to be given by
the officers & ladies of the
Post- Our Theatre is nearly
completed & we expect to open
it with a funny little com-
edy, called "Helpings Hands",
written by some Englishman.
The play is really a very
good one, as several of the
characters admit of a chance
for excellent acting-
Would you believe it, that
I have been selected to
take one of the most [humorous] parts.
 
Never attempted anything of the kind in my
life! I say "selected", because I still have
the matter under consideration- To think of
my appearance on a stage, before an au-
dience of 200 or more, & in a funny charac-
ter! Can you imagine anything more ridic-
ulous? Yet they all say that I am the
very man for the part! What has your
little boy done, that he should have led
people so astray? Adieu! my sweet love-

ever your fond & devoted

Walter
.
 
P.S. no. 2.
Kindest regards to Col. & Mrs. Harrold-
your mother, Mrs. Sue Lawrence, Mrs.
Bettie Lawrence, Mrs. Dr. L. & Dr. L-
W.
 
P.S.
This letter is [so] short & contains so
little, that I really must usurp the ladies'
prerogative & write a post-script- You
said that the gossips were still busy.
Pray, my darling, what is there left for them
to talk about? or do they most find satis-
faction in talking of nothing? I wish them
much success- What news from H.H.N.,
M.D.? He had better hurry up, or he will be
too late- December is almost here! W--