Our author recounts the recent death of a beloved school teacher and goes on to write, in part: “…our friends are constantly hearing of the death of some loved child in the Army we are not alone the land is filled with mourning And shall our great Republic be lost … tell all your friends from me to stand by our country in this the hour of peril and if they fall (as all must sometimes) not to fill a traitor’s grave we read much of deserters returning, why did they leave shame on the wretch who could desert his Country’s cause in the hour of danger the Motto is United we stand divided we fall Love Our Country and settle opinions afterward the negro well that is a great reason why loyal men cannot pull together if they have made the war and want their freedom let them fight for it … I pray God that when this unnatural war shall cease that not a slave shall be left to till the ground … we all look forward to the happy day when we can welcome home our absent ones and say to them well done … a day of Jubille [sic] that will be no chains no bondage when all can walk upright in the Image of his Creator as was intended from the beginning … a monkey cannot be a man’s place but he can fill a monkey’s place and was made free so was a negro until made a slave … all men being created free although not all equal let each fill that situation to which he is best fitted without bonds & have dwelt much on this subject and pondered it well and have come to the conclusion that the time has come when the bond man if he is black must go free …” Condition: Some minor toning. Else Fine.
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Dalish Grove
April 17th 1863
Dear Son
We are enjoying usual health that is those who are yet spared but two loved ones are no more. Little Willie stayed with us only 20 days then left us. I think the disease that killed his Mother took him and what that was we shall never know. The night we left Ellen and went up stairs to sleep she was as like to live apparently as any of us, cheerful and lively as I ever saw her. She little thought death was so near at 10 she was taken with spasms. Her nurse called us up. She never spoke but once after the first fit. She said "come Pa." She was not conscious of anything after that; died at 9 in the morning. We miss her every where dear child. She was so kind and good to me through the winter, when I was sick as well. She was always ready to help where she could. But she is at rest and can we wish her back to a world like this? She has escaped a lifetime of misery perhaps. Who can tell the future? To say we mourn her loss is too poor to express our feelings, but thank God she will suffer no more.
Our beloved has gone to rest. She had many friends and a large concourse of people attended her funeral. 33 teams followed her to the grave and had it been generally known there would have been more than a hundred teams. I never heard of such mourning amongst parents and children where she had taught school (I mean). She was so lovely even in death, so beautiful. She left us with a sweet smile upon her countenance, expressive of perfect peace.
Do not wonder if I can not think of anything else now to write. Our sorrows are too fresh to heal in a moment, but counsel is good and in time perhaps we may learn resignation. At least I hope so.
Take care of yourself and come home to us as soon as possible. Your father has gone today to get some fruit trees, has hired James Bartley. He is quite young, gives him 16 dollars a month. Our man we had last summer was better worth 20, but as the saying is, beggars must not be choosers. We are glad to get anything. Help is so scarce.
Mary will stay at home this season. Her father cannot bear to have her from home. She had a chance to teach 7 months, 3 before harvest and 4 after. I was sorry to have her lose so good a chance. It is profitable business now. Teachers get from 12 to 16 dollars a month.
I went to see Uncle James. He is getting along well. The loss of a limb we consider a great misfortune here, but he seemed cheerful and said he was glad it was no worse.
There has been many changes since you left. Death changes all things. Our friends are constantly hearing of the death of some loved child in the Army. We are not alone. The land is filled with mourning.
And shall our great Republic be lost? I trust not. Upheld by the Rock of Ages, can't be. I am glad you are sound on the subject, and tell all of your friends from me to stand by our country in this, the hour of peril; and if they fall, as all must sometime, not to fill a traitor's grave. We read much of deserters returning. Why did they leave? Shame on the wretch who could desert his country because in the hour of danger.
The motto is United we stand, divided we fall.
Love our country and settle opinions afterwards. The negro well, that is a great reason why loyal men cannot pull together. If they have made the war and want their freedom let them fight for it as well as the whites.
I pray God that when this unnatural war shall cease that not a slave shall be left to till the ground, either black or white.
Why Mother has got to be an abolitionist perhaps you will say. Be it so then. I do not change with the tide, but when good sense and sound reason dictate I would not be afraid to face a world of opposition. As for popularity, you know I care but little about it.
I say and I feel it too, as the Poet says—
If I am right, O teach me in the right to stay.
If I am wrong, O teach my heart to find the better way.
We all look forward to the happy day when we can welcome home our absent ones and say to them, "Well done good and faithful servants."
A day of Jubilee that will be no chains, no bondage, when all can walk upright in the image of his Creator as was intended from the beginning of his creation, each in his station.
A monkey cannot be a man, but he can fill a monkey's place and was made free; so was a negro until made a slave by man. Therefore I say all men being created free, although not all equal, let each fill that station to which he is best fitted without bonds.
I have dwelt much on this subject and pondered it well, and have come to the conclusion that the time has come when the bondman [if he is black] must be free.
My love to all your friends, Seth and Wm., and all. Write often. Time rolls on. You will soon be on the last year. I hope it will be a short one.
So farewell for the present.
Your Mother in sorrow,
M. Allee
