Type: Personal letter

Remarks: Nanny Gardner (daughter of Geo. I. Gardner) was 13 years old at the time of this letter.

Envelope addressed to Miss Nanny Gardner care of Mr. G. Gardner, Jacksons PO, Louisa Co., Va.

Not knowing the cause of your protracted silence, I have at length concluded to write again, hoping that my second epistle will be more fortunate than the first and that I shall not again be doomed to disappointment. I wrote to you more than a month ago and have felt quite slighted at not receiving a reply to it, still as I am anxious to hear from my Louisa friends I will not be ceremonious but write again. How are you getting on with your music? By this time I reckon you are quite a proficient in that line, I should like very much to hear you play. Father has promised to get me a piano when he goes to Richmond, and then you must pay us the promised visit, and I shall have an opportunity of hearing you play again. You do not know how much pleasure it would give us to receive a visit from you, we very often speak and think of you. Though we have so few opportunities of seeing each other and I love as a relation and a friend. Father has been indisposed for sometime, though not enough so to be confined to his bed constantly he is much more unwell than he has been for sometime. Several times we have felt quite uneasy about him, but I hope as Winter comes on he will be better, cannot you persuade uncle Abner and uncle Wiliam to come over to see him? I think the sight of them would be beneficial to him particularly as he sees them so seldom. Sister Maria is teaching us now, that is my little sister Christiana and myself. I do not know where I'll go when I take lessons on the piano but I do not reckon I will have much trouble in finding a place to go to, as there are so many schools all about now.

How is uncle Waddy I saw him when I was at uncle Abners for the first time, he looked very badly indeed. I thought, I never saw anyone eat as little as he did in my life I did not see how he could live on so little, he was a poor as could be. How is Cousin Wiliam Waddy who was at the hospital? Do they think of bringing him home or is he any better?

Why have not Cousin Wiliam Harris and Cousin Burns Waddy come over to see us before this? They promised us when we are over there that they would come very soon, but they have not paid us that long promised visit yet. I should think that now while uncle Wiliam is at home they could come more conveniently than they could afterward every time I hear the dogs bark I run to see if they are not coming. Is it not a pity that I should be disappointed every time, tell them I have almost given up all hope of their coming at all.. I ought not to write you a very long letter for I think you do not deserve it as you have not answered my first letter but I do not think that one was at all hurt with its length I would have written it longer but as I had company with me and wanted to make haste and finish it I wrote it very hurriedly and badly. Have you been to any parties lately? I have not been to a single one since that one I was at when I was at Uncle Wiliams. I wish the people would get more in the notion of parties. There have not been many dancing parties about here this summer and I think it is very poor fair without it.

Father and mother desire me to ask you and Cousin Polly to come and spend some time with us this winter and get any of your cousins that will to come with you. Please give my love to cousin Lotty. I believe I asked you in my other letter to tell her that through mistake I had brought her ring away I wish I had an opportunity to send it back but I know of no other than if cousin Wiliam and cousin Burns come over to send it by them so tell her if she wants it she must send them over for it. Please answer this letter very soon as I shall expect one very soon . I think you might as I have written you too letters. Mother, father and the children join me in love to all of our relations. Remember me as ever your fond cousin.

/signed/ Lavinia Harris

Please give my love to Uncle Abner and tell him that I say I reckon it is almost time for him to go to Richmond to sell his wheat and that he must not forget that he promised to come by here and stay three or four days with us. Yours truly

/signed/ Vin

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