Scope and Contents Describes a house nearby; writes about her relatives that are staying there; asks her to come visit. Including Selina Powell to Nina Powell. Asks Nina to write Lizzie about the house, if it can be rented, and who they should talk to.

Wishes her a Merry Christmas; tells what family members are making for presents; asks about her trip to Alexandria and the people she has seen; discusses the propriety of accepting a book for a gentleman; tells her to be happy and not to think too much.

Discusses offers she has had for teaching, saying she will take the offer closest to where Mr. Powell teaches; advises her to get her teeth fixed; discusses styles; gives advice on how to motivate one of her students; says he will not go to Gloucester because of the recent "outrages" there; says she has a "horror of drunken negroes."

Advises her to come home after her visit with Lizzie Watkins; gives a report on the health of family and friends; says almost "all black and white" went to the "procession" in Washington the day before; says her cousin Jinny Taylor's family is ill; sends her money. 4 pages. letter signed.

Discusses her poor health, saying she has been diagnosed as having a diseased heart; says she is staying with her sister Aggie who just got married; news of family. 4 pages. letter signed.

Discusses Nina's visit with her friends and her trip to the "Bear's Den"; writes of the many parties there have been since Nina left; says she has not seen Nina's sisters since they got back from Capon; discusses their friendship.

Says her father still has not come home; describes a trip Nina and Rebecca made and the people they visited; writes of young men and friends who have come to visit Nina; news of friends and family.

Discusses dresses; writes of a "Mr. C.," assuring her mother that they are not romantically involved; says Mr. and Mrs. Stringfellow left them to the care of the housekeeper; gives news about friends.

Says that Uncle J. Powell does not think Lexington is a good place to open a school and Lynchburg would be better; discusses prices for boarding; says that her Father may have to look for a tutoring job for a family and then she will have to find work as close to him as possible; discusses sewing she has done; gives news about family and friends.

Discusses the remedies "Mother" has tried for her sore throat; describes Mrs. Wildman's receipt for asparagus; says "Ma" is experimenting on her throat and then will tell Minna how to treat hers.

Describes her daily schedule, including teaching for "the girls;" says the "Captain" and the girls included her in a visit to Mrs. Cooke's; describes the people she met there and the house.