Hart, Catherine to Sister Lottie, November 30, 1860- Tampa, Fla. - Transcript

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Tampa, Nov. 30th 1860


Dear Sister Lottie

This morning before I was dressed I received your truly welcome letter. I was beginning
to feel quite anxious, you had been silent so long, fearing Ma or one of you were sick. I
do get so anxious if I do not hear often from you. I had made up my mind this morning
as I was getting out of bed, to write to you by the next mail. I wrote to Delia a short time
since, and hope she will reply to it very soon. I love to read her letters, they breathe such
a pure affectionate tone, and so much like a fond Mother, she loves to write about her
darlings, and I love to hear about them, and I want to see them very much. I hope to visit
you next summer but we do not know what is before us. Secession now agitates the
entire South, they are calling public meetings in our portion of Country. We had a very
spirited one here last Monday night, to which the Ladies were invited, and attended to, in
large numbers. Lou and I went, to hear what they could say. Ossian, as yet is not in
favour [sic] of secession, but if Florida follows South Carolina's lead, which is very
probable, we will go with her and share her fate. I do so much wish the mouths of those
Snarling bull dog Abolitionist[s] Horace Greely and Tom Bennet[t] could be shut, they
have done more and are doing more every day to exasperate the South than anything else.
South Carolina seems to be in earnest, and I fear will act without mature deliberation, the
others of the Cotton States advise waiting and let a convention decide what is to be done,
which seems to me to be the best way to prevent premature measures, in opposition to
our government. We feel badly on this subject, and fear for our country. Will there not a
man be raised suited for the times, can we not hope for a [George] Washington, a
[Daniel] Webster or a [Henry] Clay to open a way for us and pour oil upon the troubled
waters, and save this Union still to be the admiration of the world, as they have done in
years long past, although we as Southerners Sympathize with the South, still we hope to
see the difficulties settled without a resolution [dissolution] of the Union. I will send you
our weekly paper that you may form an idea of how the people feel in our section of
Country. The first part of this I wrote two or three nights ago, by a dim light and feeling
very tired, on looking at it today I feel ashamed to send it, and feel I ought to write it all
over, but reflecting on your generous heart and the indulgence you have heretofore
exersized [sic] towards me, and my limited time from household cares, I have gone on
and must now throw it all before you and beg your clemency, like many others who have
lived and died before me, I do everything in a big hurry. Lottie you can scarcely imagine
how much I look like Ma, since I have been in better health, I have increased in flesh
until [sic] I weigh 130 lbs. and in size am almost as large as our Mother, my dresses are
all to[o] tight and uncomfortable and I can't make them fit like I used to. You wrote me
some time since you were growing fleshy, but you can't come up to me I know. Ossian
weighs 230 lb[s]., is he not a monster? But as his goodness corresponds with his size we
can overlook the former in admiration of the latter, he is still at Key West and I miss him
so much these cold nights, we are now having quite cold weather for us, and large wood
fires feel comfortable. You say Ma has some preserves for me, I am glad to hear it and
wish I had them here now. I stand in need of them, but how long will it be ere I have the
pleasure of tasting them? Christmas is close at hand and we are all preparing [sic] a
Christmas box, there are many things you could send me if it were not for the trouble of









getting them on board of a vessel. There are frequently vessels from NY to Key West
and we have Steamers running between here and Key West every week- if you wish to
send anything to me, leave it at Benner & Deaker in N[ew] York to be sent by the first
vessel to Key West, and they will soon be sent over here. Send me the preserves as soon
as possible and ask Ma to either make me or buy a nice large fruit cake and send me. We
seldom can get the materials here for making them and I think I would enjoy one from
home very much, and if it could get here by Christmas or even New Years it would be
very pleasant and we would enjoy it very much. I will send you a 2.50 gold piece, if I
can get it I have plenty of bills but they will not pass with you now, and send me anything
else you choose, a box from home full of good things would be quiet exceptable [sic], a
lb. or 2 of broken candy for the children also would be nice, get anything you think we
would like and I will bear all expense. You speak of a bonnet, the bonnets they are
wearing now are to[o] ugly for me. Our merchants have brought several out and they are
about. Pokes they are called, and Pokes they are. I have been wearing mine over a year
now, and shall wear it until next summer if I go home, if not I will send to Savannah or
Charleston and get one. Please Lottie send me as soon as possible the pattern of the
Rabbit made of Canton Flannel. I want to make some for Christmas, answer this very
soon and send the pattern. Dealia has received my letter long ere this. I hope she will
write me soon again, give much love to her and the children. Give much love to Em and
Ma and for yourself except [sic] the best love and kind wishes of your ever affectionate
Sister

Kate


Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009

PAGE 1

Tampa, Nov. 30th 1860 Dear Sister Lottie This morning before I was dressed I received your truly welcome letter. I was beginning to feel quite anxious, you had been silent so long, fearing Ma or one of you were sick. I do get so anxious if I do not hear often fr om you. I had made up my mind this morning as I was getting out of bed, to write to you by th e next mail. I wrote to Delia a short time since, and hope she will reply to it very soon. I love to read her lette rs, they breathe such a pure affectionate tone, and so much like a fond Mother, she love s to write about her darlings, and I love to hear a bout them, and I want to see them very much. I hope to visit you next summer but we do not know what is before us. Sece ssion now agitates the entire South, they are calling public meetings in our portion of Country. We had a very spirited one here last Monday night, to which the Ladies were invited, and attended to, in large numbers. Lou and I went, to hear what they could say. Ossia n, as yet is not in favour [ sic ] of secession, but if Florida follows South CarolinaÂ’s lead, which is very probable, we will go with her and share her fate I do so much wish the mouths of those Snarling bull dog Abolitionist[s] Horace Greely and Tom Bennet[t] could be shut, they have done more and are doing more every day to exasperate the South than anything else. South Carolina seems to be in earnest, and I fear will act without mature deliberation, the others of the Cotton States advise waiting and let a convention decide what is to be done, which seems to me to be the best way to prevent premature measures, in opposition to our government. We feel badly on this subjec t, and fear for our country. Will there not a man be raised suited for the times, can we not hope for a [George] Washington, a [Daniel] Webster or a [Henry] Clay to ope n a way for us and pour oil upon the troubled waters, and save this Union still to be the admiration of the world, as they have done in years long past, although we as Southerners Sy mpathize with the South, still we hope to see the difficulties settled wit hout a desolution [dissolution] of the Union. I will send you our weekly paper that you may form an idea of how the people feel in our section of Country. The first part of this I wrote two or three nights ago, by a dim light and feeling very tired, on looking at it today I feel ashame d to send it, and feel I ought to write it all over, but reflecting on your generous hear t and the indulgence you have heretofore exersized [ sic ] towards me, and my limited time from household cares, I have gone on and must now throw it all before you and be g your clemency, like many others who have lived and died before me, I do everything in a big hurry. Lottie you can scarcely imagine how much I look like Ma, since I have been in better health, I have increased in flesh untill [ sic ] I weigh 130 lbs. and in size am almost as large as our Mother, my dresses are all to[o] tight and uncomfortable and I canÂ’t ma ke them fit like I used to. You wrote me some time since you were growing fleshy, but you canÂ’t come up to me I know. Ossian weighs 230 lb[s]., is he not a monster? Bu t as his goodness corresponds with his size we can overlook the former in admiration of the la tter, he is still at Key West and I miss him so much these cold nights, we are now havi ng quite cold weather for us, and large wood fires feel comfortable. You say Ma has some preserves for me, I am glad to hear it and wish I had them here now. I stand in need of them, but how long will it be ere I have the pleasure of tasting them? Christmas is close at hand and we are all prepareing [ sic ] a Christmas box, there are many things you could send me if it were not for the trouble of

PAGE 2

getting them on board of a vessel. There ar e frequently vessels from NY to Key West and we have Steamers running between here and Key West every weekif you wish to send anything to me, leave it at Benner & Deak er in N[ew] York to be sent by the first vessel to Key West, and they will soon be sent over here. Send me the preserves as soon as possible and ask Ma to either make me or buy a nice large fruit ca ke and send me. We seldom can get the materials here for maki ng them and I think I would enjoy one from home very much, and if it could get here by Christmas or even New Years it would be very pleasant and we would enjoy it very much. I will send you a 2.50 gold piece, if I can get it I have plenty of bills but they will not pass with you now, and send me anything else you choose, a box from home full of good things would be quiet exceptable [ sic ], a lb. or 2 of broken candy for the children al so would be nice, ge t anything you think we would like and I will bear all expense. You speak of a bonnet, the bonnets they are wearing now are to[o] ugly for me. Our merc hants have brought several out and they are about. Pokes they are called, and Poke s they are. I have been wearing mine over a year now, and shall wear it untill next summer if I go home, if not I will send to Savannah or Charleston and get one. Please Lottie send me as soon as possible the pattern of the Rabbit made of Canton Flannel. I want to ma ke some for Christmas, answer this very soon and send the pattern. Dealia has received my letter long ere this I hope she will write me soon again, give much love to her a nd the children. Give much love to Em and Ma and for yourself except [ sic ] the best love and kind wishes of your ever affectionate Sister Kate Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009