Sarah Bishop writes of her garden, finances, the house, the rent, her hopes that Joseph Bishop will be home soon. Her new teeth hurt.
Danbury
June 28th 1863
My Dear Husband
I received two more letters from you yesterday dated the 14th and 16th of June. I was agreeably surprised for I had just read that there would not be a Steamer sail from New Orleans until the 21 st and thought of course I should not get any more letters until next week.
They are good kind and loving letters Dearest- and it made my heart glad to receive them. I hope you may be able to come home to us Darling in July but I am afraid you cannot be spared very well if Genl. Banks has so few reserves. But we will hope for the best I am very anxious to have you come home as we seem to be getting too much expense on our heads by paying so much for rent. I wrote to you on Thursday telling you all about it Darling but sometimes I am afraid you will blame me for staying in the house but I thought it would cost us much to move nearly as it would to stay at least until you come home and then I have made my garden so nicely and took such pains with it besides the expense of it, that would all be thrown away. And I have cleaned all my part nicely and got all fixed carpets down on I have not consulted Fannie yet but I shall perhaps tomorrow. I thought she might be down to see me to day, but they have so much company and no servant. I suppose she finds no time to come. We are having a very dry season and need rain very much. The garden does. I water the small plants every night.
So you have been dreaming about me Darling. I have not had any dream lately but you know they always go by contraries and you could not expect anything different. I need not speak more plainly should I Darling but I wish you might even have enjoyed that visit. The children
251 are all in in [sic] bed, wide awake however and full of their fun the great kitten figures largely in their enjoyments by the way, one of them was killed the kitten I mean and they had a funeral and buried it in the lot I sent word to Mrs. Hagan that her husband was getting better she will be glad to hear it as she felt worried about him I am so glad and thankful Dear Husband that you keep well you must try and take care of yourself Oh dear Josie how much I do want to see you and feel your Dear arms around me. My heart fairly aches for you know I am so lonely without your society Darling and have so few friends. Mrs. Lockwood and Mrs. Theodore[?] called on me yesterday they are friends of Mrs. Smith and I often saw them when they came to see her- Oh I must tell you about my new teeth they feel very badly but they say I will soon get used to them. I wish you could see how I look Darling. You should be a good judge whether I look natural but wait a while and you will see I love you very tenderly Josie and long to have you at home once more it makes me glad to see you acknowledge your trust in God, my Dear Darling Husband how much we have to be thankful for you may be sure that I have prayed for you that you may be kept from all harm and restored to us in God's good time
From your Devoted loving Wife
Sauchey
