Letter from Asbury Coward to his future wife Elise, May 7, 1856
Title
Letter from Asbury Coward to his future wife Elise, May 7, 1856
Subject
Description
Letter from Asbury to his future wife Elise while he is at King's Mountain. He talks about being upset over not receiving her letter and the happiness when he finally receives it.
Creator
Source
A2009.6, Box 2 Folder 1
Publisher
The Citadel Archives and Museum
Date
Rights
Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1582
Coverage
York (S. C.)
Text
[Page 1]
Yorkville May 7th 1856
Darling Elise
I am glad you could not see me yesterday afternoon when I learned that no letter had come for me. It had been raining the whole day, everything was cold, cheerless and disagreeable. Amidst all this gloom I maintained a cheerfulness, which contrasted well with it all. I had just finished my afternoon segar [sic] and laid by my book, in order to enjoy your expected letter. "No letter for you", cried Seabrook as he entered the room. I was confounded. No, here is my Courier. To [illegible] my feet impatiently upon the back of the chair before me and upset a pile of books which were upon my table, and light another segar [sic]. Was the work of an instant. The hope of receiving your letter had cheered me throughout the gloomy day, and now as that was gone, I gave way to a paroxysm of Blues, truly pitiable to behold. My room-mates both sympathized with me, but I felt like choking them for their sympathy
[Page 2]
Of course I hold you answerable for the extra segar [sic]. It is said that delayed joys are ever the sweetest, and upon that principle you may account for the delight with which I lingered over your lines this evening. Had I not, very foolishly, eaten a large supper to night, I might say, now all is harmony within. (Don't mistake the word for harmony, for I assure you I had nothing, but biscuit, bread, butter-milk and tea. We don't get any delicacies nowadays.
But I cannot write a long letter, dear, those reports are again to be made out. I need not again dilate upon them. You ought to know something of them by this time. I will write an immense letter on Sunday to make up for this trifling ship of a note. I am sorry to learn of your father's indisposition. Tell him he had better acknowledge the corn, and call the thing by its right name - gout.
Give my love to all, and receive the thousand kisses that are itching on my lips. -
Your devoted Asbury.
Yorkville May 7th 1856
Darling Elise
I am glad you could not see me yesterday afternoon when I learned that no letter had come for me. It had been raining the whole day, everything was cold, cheerless and disagreeable. Amidst all this gloom I maintained a cheerfulness, which contrasted well with it all. I had just finished my afternoon segar [sic] and laid by my book, in order to enjoy your expected letter. "No letter for you", cried Seabrook as he entered the room. I was confounded. No, here is my Courier. To [illegible] my feet impatiently upon the back of the chair before me and upset a pile of books which were upon my table, and light another segar [sic]. Was the work of an instant. The hope of receiving your letter had cheered me throughout the gloomy day, and now as that was gone, I gave way to a paroxysm of Blues, truly pitiable to behold. My room-mates both sympathized with me, but I felt like choking them for their sympathy
[Page 2]
Of course I hold you answerable for the extra segar [sic]. It is said that delayed joys are ever the sweetest, and upon that principle you may account for the delight with which I lingered over your lines this evening. Had I not, very foolishly, eaten a large supper to night, I might say, now all is harmony within. (Don't mistake the word for harmony, for I assure you I had nothing, but biscuit, bread, butter-milk and tea. We don't get any delicacies nowadays.
But I cannot write a long letter, dear, those reports are again to be made out. I need not again dilate upon them. You ought to know something of them by this time. I will write an immense letter on Sunday to make up for this trifling ship of a note. I am sorry to learn of your father's indisposition. Tell him he had better acknowledge the corn, and call the thing by its right name - gout.
Give my love to all, and receive the thousand kisses that are itching on my lips. -
Your devoted Asbury.
Collection
Citation
Coward, Asbury, 1835-1925, “Letter from Asbury Coward to his future wife Elise, May 7, 1856,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed April 23, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1582.