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-Mary D. Edwards Summer 2000

1856-1861 16 items Letters of John P. Lightner to Amanda C. Armentrout Brand #11332

Green Bank,

March 3rd/ 60.

Dear Friend & Whilom Schoolmate.

Read your kind epistle on the 16th, ult, & take occasion to inform that I am in very good spirits now, for I have but one more week to teach school, & thought I would respond before I would leave the neighborhood.

Glad to hear that conjugal affairs are prospering on the river, as you had one wedding. But as it is leap year, I suppose the ladies claim a right, which they ought to exercise, & I hope will if they are not too bashful, so as to be defeated in their schemes.

I hope you all on the River will manifest the willingness of your tastes, in effecting the quadrennial privilege, so allowed to the fair sex, ha:ha: Well I must retract my foolishness, & let leap year do its work, for it will be now hard to tell where I’ll be at its end.

I spent my holy days pretty much at home; was at a Taffy Boiling at Mr. Rowan’s [and] had a splendid time; which was the amt[amount] of my sport.

And so your imagination was struck with Mr. Jacob Pinkerton, at the Western Fair in Greenville. - So you intend to take every gray horse & watch & I expect setting your cap for some Old Gray headed Bachelor too.

What sort of a time did you have on Valentine night?

There was a terrible dry time over this side. I have not seen a valentine, let alone a drawing.

Did you all look for me to come to your Lyceum, on last week? I saw Mr. Munro the Sunday previous, & intimated as though I might be over. He was over to see his lady love, - I do wonder if he is courting that young lady. I had no invitation to the party.

I expect to retire from the scene of action, & return home perhaps this day week, where I expect to abide awhile.

Kiss Mollie for me because she is such a pest.

I heard the Miss Armentrouts in Staunton spoken of not long since, by the Miss Misels over in the bounds of Hebron Church. Ask your brother John if he knows them. You must not mind my foolishness, for you can easily tell, I have not much news to write.

With many wishes for your happiness.

I remain,

Your Friend,

Angus

To Miss Midie

[Attached to this letter is an envelope addressed to: Miss Kate Armentrout, Greenville, Augusta County, Virginia.]