Letter: Laura E. Magruder to Emma Jones, May 25, 1857

              Locust Grove,  May 25th 1857.

My dearest Emma.

I expect you think I have forgotten you by, my long silence, no dear Emma, I often think of you, and wish that you were home, and then we could have nice times together, I am now staying with Grandma, as she is sick in bead [sic], and Sister Lizzie has gone home to go to the Dunkards feast, Cousin Evvie is [staying] with Cousin Rachel, Mr. William Blunt is going to take her up to the feast, in a two horse [buggy], do you not think she is getting along finely with her beaus, I expect she will soon walk off the single list, your Sister Lizzie intends going with Lizzie & Ginnie, I suppose you have heard that the ladies & Gentleman have been down to the Falls, Nathan Cook took Ginnie & Evvie down, I believe the most of them went down in a big wagon, I suppose you are looking with great delight for Committee day, I expect to some down if possible, I will be very glad dear Emma when you come home, as our neighborhood is very dull, I am in hopes [sic] we will have fine times together this Summer, I heard that there was to be a camp meeting at Mechanicksville this year, I am in hopes [sic] it is true, as I do love camp meetings, I was at Goshen to preaching yesterday, and heard a fine Sermon, Mrs. Achsah Jones is [staying] at Mr. Waterses we intends staying down three or four weeks, I heard that she had a very pretty baby, I have seen her several times, she is looking very well, she was at your Ma's Saturday, and spent the night, I was at White Oak Sunday before last, your Sister Lizzie & Rachel came by our house, and left Willie and went to church, and dined with us, you ought to see the little Sunny boy, he has improved very much, I will now tell you how many chickens, I have, one hundred and 68, do you not think I have a very pretty [parcel], Robert Thrift called at our house last week to see Ginnie but she was not at home, she had gone to the Falls, you ought to see him, he is so very handsome, he has jet black hair & whiskers, and beautiful teeth, he has been to the West,