Lexington Va: 1 Jany 1868
My dearest Markie
With the return of a new year my mind reverts to you with fresh pleasure. Although so distant, you are often present to my thoughts, & always come to brighten reminiscences of the past. I hope the New Year may bring you every happiness, & that all Heavenly blessings may be showered upon your head! My interest in time & its concerns is daily fading away & I try to keep my eyes & thoughts fixed on those eternal shores to which I am fast hastening.
I am glad to inform you that your Cousin Mary’s general health was I think improved by her visit to the W. Sulphur springs last summer. She looks better, is stronger, freer of pain & is consequently better able to take exercise than when you saw her. In good weather she is able to ride out, & to move all over the yard & garden on her crutches, though she is unable to make a single step. Agnes is the only one of the girls at home. Mary is in Baltimore, & Mildred has not yet returned from Richmond. After Fitzhughs wedding she remained to one of her young friends marriage, Miss Lizzie Triplett, to whom she had been under promise for a year to act as bridesmaid. It took place on the evg of the 26th last, & M. now writes that she & Robert will return next week. I hope they may not be disappointed, for save my two nephews & niece, Mildred Lee, Custis & Agnes form our domestic circle.
The holydays have produced some gaity among the young people & several parties have occurred. Agnes is a regular attendant upon all associations for amusement, but Custis seems to partake of so much of my gravity that he cannot be induced to go anywhere.
I am glad you liked my new daughter. I formed her acquaintance when the armies laid around Petersburg, she had then not left school, & I was much pleased with her. She was very kind to her Papa when he went to see her married, & has promised to come & see him in the sweet months of spring. We now have cold & icy winter upon us. The mountains & hills are covered with a thick mantle of snow & present this morg a mild representation of Alaska. I fear the arrival of our son & daughter may be delayed by the difficulties attending our imperfect communications at this season, but your thoughtful present of the picture of the latter, for which I thank you every time I look at it, serves to fix upon her in her absence my eyes & thoughts. How are you progressing with Travellers portrait Markie? He is getting old like his master, and looks to your pencil to hand him down to posterity. I am perfectly satisfied with what you have done for his rider. You must remember me most kindly to sweet little Katie & Gerty. Tell them that Robt Campbell is growing finely & attending school daily: that the shadow of the incomparable Hattie has grown no less, & that she has become the favourite friend of my niece Mildred. All the household unite with me in love to you Markie & I am as ever & always your Cousin
R E Lee
Source: Transcribed from digital scan of original letter, Letters of Robert E. Lee to Martha Custis Williams, 1844-1870, Huntington Library, San Marino, California
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 October 2
