Scope and Contents Wishes Mr. Francis B[everly] Whiting much happiness; hopes she and Mrs. [Mary (Whiting)] Little find a daughter and sister worthy of them; is now fixed at the new school and has been fatigued and worried about moving; is tired of moving from one place to another so that nothing short of returning to Virginia could tempt her to start again; Fenton is once more at school; Mary will end her schooling at the end of the year; her daughter Francis is to be a first rate scholar and Lucy kept until she is grown up if they can do so; they are in fair health except for herself; has rheumatism in her head which is so bad sometimes she cannot speak; unlike her (EW) she is in a noisy crowd taking care of a large family and does not have time to rest although she sometimes does so whether it is convenient or not; trying to get her children educated thinking it is the best portion a parent can give; high learning was not in fashion for females as it is now; does not see as a result of increased education "more amiable manners more polite attentions better wives or mothers better mistresses or neighbors"; concludes it must be all inward work which never comes out; thinks Mama and Aunt Banister "as elegant as any of the new times"; have ahd a most uncommon winter; the plum trees at the beginning of the year were white in bloom but in 20 hours everything that has liquid in it froze and broke; lost 23 jugs of molasses in the meat house; thinks it is horrid climate; they never see a "healthy sound looking young person" or an old one; yellow-green complexions are all the fashion; Athens was an exception, she speaks of this place where they are the most dressy extravagant people she ever saw and the worst looking; [?] is as common as homespun in Loudoun [County, Virginia]; was told that 14 miles from there the cold plague has made its appearance; asks Doctor Little to write and let her know what the treatment and symptoms are as she has no idea; asks her to get her brother George to write what Doctor Lacy says in the multiplicity of Council; discusses the selfish world and rise of individualism and how she must stay alive to care for her female children in particular; they have madara bread and plenty to spare as cotton as brought in a lot of money this year; everything is three and four times more than it is in Virginia so that a great deal of money does not go as far as it would there; Mr. Bretton has seen Louisisa and she is sold to a man 14 miles from there; her breeding and manners far above his but she may live inplenty and be well used; he thinks a great deal of her and refused a high price for her; she has not seen her [Louisisa] yet but she sent word she would come to see her; a man sold by Jonathan Carter, formerly owned by Garretson Nelson, came out with Louisisa; he came to see them at Christmas and many an egg and chicken he has bought from him in the old hollow and on the mountain; he told something about all the old neighbors which he believes are tales; ever forgets anyone black or white or thinks anyone does unless they choose to; skes her to let her mother know she heard from her; Mary will write to sister Nancy. 4pp. ALS.