Lexington Va: 16 Feb 1869
My dear Niece,[1]
I have wanted So much to thank you for your kind & affectionate letter of November, but I knew how much you would be occupied with the events then in prospective, but now realized, & felt that I ought to give place to the friends near you & to their overwhelming attending & Congratulations. But though far away, my thoughts were with you through all the scenes through which you have passed, & my prayers have been regularly offered to the throne of the Most High, that He would extend over you & yours his care & love, & shown upon you such blessings as you most needed. On the 26th, your wedding day, you & Edward were especially remembered by your Aunt, myself & all your Cousins & our united wishes were uttered in your behalf.
I hope indeed that you will be able to visit us next Summer though we can promise you nothing but our love & gratitude, for the trouble it will give you & the pleasure it will afford us. In the meantime you must get very well, for it will require all your strength to enable you to undergo our rough life & rough County, but where tender & loving hearts will be open to receive you. In am Sure too that you will be invigorated by our mountain air & pleased with our mountain Scenery & will be better able upon your return to appreciate the delights of your own home. We shall therefore expect you. I want you too to become acquainted with all your Cousins in this Country, for I trust that there are long years of happiness in store for you & them, & that you & they may have many happy reunions when I shall not be present. I must refer you to my letter to Edward for intelligence concerning us. You & he are united in our thoughts & love now, & we embrace you both together. All write with me in expressions of warmest love & in aspirations for your lasting happiness.
With great affection, your Uncle
R E Lee
Madame E. L. Childe
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 4, M2009.371, Jessie Ball duPont Library, Stratford Hall
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2015 September 30
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 4, M2009.371, Jessie Ball duPont Library, Stratford Hall
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2015 September 30
