Letter by Mrs. Elizabeth Brown
Milledgeville, Geo
8th Nov 1857
My dear ma
There have been so many passing that I could not write earlier.
This place has a great many gay (parties?) here at this time and the
Mansion is a very large house and well furnished with most things,
there are seven feather beds fourteen under beds nine large
bedsteads two small ones, a cradle a crib seven bureaus a large
closet in every bedroom there are five rooms and two large closets
or store rooms on the ground floor and on the next floor two dining
rooms (a closet in one) a parlor, reception room, and large saloon
the length of the house, in this the company is entertained at
levees,; (just below in a room the same size the tables are set.) on
the next floor are six bed rooms, four have fire places, one a stove
and one without either and one small room for the bed-clothes. but
with all these things surrounding me I am lonesome and should enjoy
life more; at my dear old home I will often yearn to be there.
Emma has not been able to leave her room since we got here, (I
had her put in the next room to mine) she has typhoid fever, was not
able to sit up any after we left Acworth. Dr. Fort is waiting on
her, she is sitting up some today and the Dr. says she will get well
if she does not relapse. Frank is yet quite unwell. Mr. Brown has
hired a meat or everyday cook at 75 cents a day and a boy to wait on
the table and answer the bell at 25 dollars a month, and if Emma
does not get well soon we will have to hire a woman to wash and
iron. Miss Sarah Steele came down with us and really I do not know
how I could get along without her, she is handy at any thing that is
to be done is the house or the kitchen.
Miss Helen Underwood is with us and is also a very agreeable young
lady plaits (?) hair and does every thing she can to assist me.
We have to pay 25 cents the pound for lard and hams, 40 cents for
butter, 25 cents a dozen for eggs, 10 cents for pork, 8 cents for
beef. Provision of all kinds are high. I hardly see how we can
afford to live here.
Friday was a beautiful day and there was a very large crowd of
persons at the Inaugurations. The babe cough pretty hard; the other
children are improving. I have a sympathetic cough. Mr. Brown is
well. I hope your health is good and that you will not expose your
self and take cold. The weather is now very warm. Give my love to
sister Susan and all the friends too, many to write all their names.
Celia has kept well and is a great help about waiting on the
children.
A great many have called on me I can not return their calls til
children and Emma get better. Do try and write to me. There is a
small garden on the lot, very comfortable out houses of all kinds, a
great many things are needed in the dining room, such as spoons,
knives, tea cups, etc. etc. and will have to be bought before a
dozen and a half could be seated at the table.
Your affectionate daughter
Elizabeth Brown
*Note: Items in brackets are illegible
