Among the many who visited us, in the beginning of 1861,
there was Mr. Bradford. I took a dislike to him the first time I ever saw him,
and, being accustomed to say just what I pleased to all the other gentlemen,
tried it with him. It was at dinner, and for a long while I had the advantage,
and though father would sometimes look grave, Gibbes, and all at my end of the
table, would scream with laughter. At last Mr. Bradford commenced to retaliate,
and my dislike changed into respect for a man who could make an excellent
repartee with perfect good-breeding; and after dinner, when the others took
their leave, and he asked permission to remain, — during his visit, which
lasted until ten o'clock, he had gone over such a variety of subjects,
conversing so well upon all, that Miriam and I were so interested that we
forgot to have the gas lit!
SOURCE: Sarah Morgan Dawson, A Confederate Girl's
Diary, p. 8
No comments:
Post a Comment