1. When there is no punctuation in the document, it is added in brackets if needed for clarity.

2. The notation [sic] is used to indicate a misspelled word if needed for clarity.

3. A blank space, i.e. ________ indicates a word in the document that is not dicipherable.

4. The capitalization style in the original document is copied.

5. Square brackets, i.e. [ ] are used to indicate an addition by the transcriber to clarify meaning in the original document.

6. Underlining in the original document is repeated in the transcript.

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-Mary D. Edwards Summer 2000

1859-1866, 1867 & 1871-1874 37 items Correspondence of Amanda C. Armantrout Brand    

Lexington, VA.

May 16th 1873

Dear Sister

I will write you a few lines as I may have a chance to send it by Mr. Strickler. I saw him up town & will wach [watch] for him when he goes by[.] Well we are all well & I have no Knews[sic]. I was out at Lizzie[‘]s Sunday [.] They are all well. Evening _____ is very quiet here now, business is very dull[.] People are planting corn & all seem to be staying close at home. It did me good to meet Mrs Strickler. it brought back pleasent [sic] reccollections [sic] of the days I spent at Hill & Dale[.] how memory loves to recall the pleasent [sic] past, but duty points to the failure [?] and Success is the seasoned _____ - ______

Fortune holds out as & inducement to ______ our _____ for the battle of life, but when it is all over & we have ________ the ardious [sic] duties that are allotted to each one of us here, How sweet it will be to cross over the river & rest beneath the shade of _______[.] All the little ones are well out at Lizzies[.] Miss Nancy Hill[?] remaens [sic] in her room[,] hope she will improve when it gets bright & warm[.] The baby grows very fast - & Sue is the prettyest thing you ever saw of the kind & so Julie of something & ____ Tom is as sedate as an old man. & Jack is a boy of his own head, and will have things as he wants them. Hope your little folks are well and growing fast. I fear I will spoil you by writeing [sic] to you twice be fore [sic] you answer my first letter but thought it best not to let the opportunity pass. you will please excuse haste & still [style] for I am writeing against time now. How are John & Charlse [sic] & Gapton [?] come ing [sic] on tradeing [sic] this year [?], How is Betty Caldwell & Selestine & Cous Sam [?] and Lizzie & the children[?] hope they are all well. my love to them all & my old friend McHunter[.] he must not be forgotten in the distribution of it. How is Jake & Miss Lee makeing it or does he visit her at all[?]. Does Cousin Lizzie still talk of moveing back to Staunton in the spring[?] What is the prospect of a good wheat crop this year round Barterbrook[?]. We eat [?] as a general thing is ______ badly round here.

Mr McGuffous [or McGuffons] folks are well [.] John has landed safely in Indianna but had not gone into work yet when they heard from him[.] Rook Linzy is hauling wood to town with three old poor horses[,] that reminds me of ____ ______ , going to Staunton[.] Poor Boy[,] whiskey has brought him down, The gardens are looking well & we are selling some vegatables [sic] out of them[.] Things to eat are high & scarce here now. well I must stop as my paper is out[.] write soon George

[Written in the margin:] let me here all the news around Tinkling Spring when you write[.] is Jack Mc Chesny going to marry Mollie Highland[?] I heard that he was. George

[The attached envelope is addressed to: Mrs. Kate Brand, Greenville, Augusta County, Virginia.]