Invites Nina and Hattie Powell to come stay with them; says she feels better and is very excited to see them.

Expresses her joy that she arrived home safely, and her regret that her mother Selina Powell has taken ill; describes a jousting tournament among young boys or "knights," in which the girls were honored as Queens and Maids of Honor; news about family and friends.

Gives her condolences for her uncle's death and her mother's illness; tells her of Nancy's Lettie's sister engagement and tells Nina not to leave her to marry a man; much news of family and friends.

Thanks Nina for her letter congratulating her and Willie Booker on their engagement; news about her fiance; tells her adventures of keeping the house while her mother was gone; news of family and friends.

Writes that her father is looking for board for her Selina and until then she will stay in Charlotte; recommends that Nina not write to a man unless she is engaged to him or unless he is an old family friend; news of family and friends.

Discusses how far they are apart but thinks it is best that she (her mother) stay at Uncle Fred's; says she will stay at school for Christmas; writes of family and friends; tells that her health is very good and that she weights 106 pounds; discusses her school duties and her sewing.

Describes the parties she has had at her home recently; speaks of the engagement between Willie Booker and Nancy her sister, and Lou Edmunds and Captain Hill; news of family and friends.

Tells how she and her friends have been together for three weeks now, staying at different homes; wishes Nina could be there; news of courting, engagements and weddings; tells Nina that she will not become an old maid; much news about family and friends; discusses reading societies and books read.

Tells of courtings, engagements and weddings; tells of Christmas plans; discusses the struggle in the Christian life to be pure.

Describes Christmas holidays; discusses the Christian struggle for purity; says she is having more headaches; discusses poor financial situation with no patrons paying for her teachings.

Describes the changes taking place: their Uncle Joe has died and she, Lavalette and her mother have moved to Falkland to take care of his children; she and Lavalette will teach the children; Lavalette is feeling worse; her brother and sister May will take care of Linden; news of engagements, weddings, family and friends.

Describes her new home and her new schedule; news about family and friends.

Tells about her fiance Willie Booker's work in Medical School; describes reactions to the Territorial Bill and to General Scofields; wonders if Lavalette will keep her promise to become an old maid; says the weather is so bad that they will not be able to go to Church for a month because of the roads; says she is trying to guess when weddings will be by who is making their wedding clothes.

Describes her teaching job with her sister Nancy; describes her students; tells how spirits have been low since the passage of the Territorial Bill, says their district is commanded by General Schofield; describes the "demoralizing" incident of one of the county men running off with a 'Negro' girl and marrying her; news of family and friends.

Sends this letter through a friend and asks Rebecca to mail a package to Washington, D.C. for her; may have some frames sent to her, which could then be sent to them by steamboat to Richmond and canal boat to Lexington; says Mildred is in Richmond; Rob and Fitzhugh may go to Jennie's? wedding.

Describes the commencement exercises that she and Lavalette attended at Hampden Sydney; describes the fashions she saw there; says the scrub worm is seriously damaging the tobacco crop; describes their summer bonnets bought in Richmond. 4 pages. letter signed.

Says that Nancy her sister has been ill; says that she, Nancy and their mother will take a trip North for their health; says she dreads to be among the 'Yankees;' tells that Lou Booker has typhoid fever and so her wedding must be postponed; discusses the advantages and disadvantages of being an old maid and whether they will be one.

Gives news of gentlemen who are courting her; says that John Smith has been visiting her every other night; tells Nina that it is becoming serious and that she better come home soon or she will be gone; gives advice on the gentlemen that Nina is seeing.

Describes their stay in Danville; tells that her engagement with Willie Booker has been terminated; discusses their plans of where to live next year; news of family and friends; discusses fair.

Thanks Hattie for her announcement of her "change of condition" marriage or engagement?; gives her best wishes for her health and happiness.

Discusses which furniture and portraits she would like to have sent to her.

Discusses details of sending furniture from Alexandria to Lexington and of having portraits framed and sent. Includes notes to Selina and Nina.

Discusses her transactions to acquire more furnishings for their home; news about family and friends.

Asks about her interactions with Mr. D?; says Nina's happiness is the only bright spot in their lives; says she hasn't been to church much; says she has seen a lot of Willie S.?; regrets that she can't say everything she would like to, because the letter must go through so many hands; writes of the broken Southern spirit; asks if there are any "situations" near them that she could take; says that she cannot write much because it works her "into such a state".

Tells of their new life at Linden, helping to take care of "Sis" May's children; comments on Nina's sister Hattie's marriage; discusses religion; describes a trip to Richmond; news about family and friends.