January 6th.
I am very thankful
to our kind Heavenly Father for good tidings from you and baby — specially that
she is restored again to health, and I trust that we all three may so live as
most to glorify His holy name. . . . I
have a visor, but I hope I shall not have to sleep in a tent any more this
winter. My ears are still troubling me, but I am very thankful that my hearing
is as good as usual, and from my appearance one would suppose that I was
perfectly well. Indeed, my health is essentially good, but I do not think I
shall be able in future to stand what I have already stood, although, with the
exception of the increased sensitiveness of my ears, my health has improved. I
am sorry to hear that dear mother's health does not improve. . . . We have several cases of smallpox at
Guiney's, and I expect you will have to give up all idea of coming to see me
until spring, as I fear it would be too much of a risk for you and baby to
travel up here.
The other day I
received from the citizens of Augusta County a magnificent horse, with an
excellent saddle and bridle. It is the most complete riding equipment that I
have seen. My kind friends went so far as to get patent stirrups, constructed
so as to open and throw the foot from the stirrup in the event of the rider
being thrown and the foot hung in the stirrups. How kind is God to us! Oh that
I were more grateful!
SOURCE: Mary Anna Jackson, Life and Letters of
General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), p. 412-3
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