December 1st 1831
My Dear Husband—
I was highly pleased to hear from you by Joel, and of your safe
return from your last scrape, I hope to God that you will not
suffer by your being so exposed to the Cold for so many nights,
I am fearfull that it will give you the Fever and Ague, you are
not half as carefull of your self as you should be, how, careless
to go out with out your hat, or coat, I am really astonished at you
all the uneasiness that I have now is on your account, for you are
so careless, of your self, I have to live so very much exposed, I
shall be miserable if I hear of your being Sick, you must try and
come up, if you should be taken unwell,— I am very smart, the
Baby is not two weeks old, and I have been out into the eating
room twice, as bad as the weather has been, we have the prospect of
a pleasant day at last, the first for two weeks,—
I send you a Plan of a House that Stephen sent down for me to
look at, I approve of the Plan very much, it will be a very
convenient, and pleasent house, altho it is on a pretty large Scale,
but not two large, if you think your purse will allow you to venture
so far, if you could git the frame up, and the roof on and
weatherboarded, by having one chimney and three rooms made habitable
the Balance could remain unfinished until], time, and money ennabled
you to finished it; at all evence you can make some improvement on
your own Plan by comparing it with the one I send you, I would
rather have more room thrown into the rooms, and not have the
Passage so wide, I should prefer having the Back-Gallery much
wider, than the Front Gallery as it will always be used more than
the Other, I approve of Stephen Plan as it respects that end of the
house, were the Childrens rooms are struck of; also by deviding one
of the large rooms,—; but you can make such alterations as you think
propper, you are a better judge that I am how, large a house we can
build, and the expence attending it; go according to your own
judgement, if Plank can be had to lay down on the Passage and back
Gallery, by closing in three rooms, we could move down, (I mean
putting in doors and windows) the rest of the unfinished House would
do for the boys to Lodge in, through the Summer; I approve of his
Plan in laying off the Grounds very much I wish the Back Yard
to run down to the Creek and do not let the Boys cut down any of
the trees that will make a Shade, you know I am a great Friend to
trees and sh[r]ubbery— come up as soon as possible, for we are
all very anxious, to see you, write by every opportunity, Adieu—
E. M. P.
Have received letters from John Perry and Rachel, all friends
were well, nothing perticular in them;