"I trust darling Cicely is not burdened by the many letters
we have written to her--my own four, and Rupert's three,
as well as those of her other friends on the islands about here.
All wished to write, and we did not know how to say no.
"With love to Miss Bruce, I am, dear judge, your attached
and sorrowing friend, NANNY SINGLETON."
Letter number two:
"ROMNEY, _Saturday Morning._
"MY DEAR MR. TENNANT,--My husband has just received
your letter, and as he is much crippled by his rheumatism this
morning, he desires me to answer it immediately, so that there
may be no delay.
"We both supposed that Dr. Knox had written to you.
Probably while he was here there were so many things to
take up his time that he could not; and I happen to know
that as soon as he reached Charleston, day before yesterday,
he was met by this unexpected proposition to join a private
yacht for a cruise of several months; one of the conditions
was that he was to go on board immediately (they sailed the
same evening), and I dare say he had time for nothing but
his own preparations, and that you will hear from him later.
My husband says, however, that he can give you all the details
of the case, which was a simple one. Your brother overestimated
his strength, he should not have attempted that
journey to Savannah; it was too soon, for his wound had
not healed, and the fatigue brought on a dangerous relapse,
from which he could not rally. He died from the effects of
that cruel shot, Mr. Tennant; his valuable life has fallen a
sacrifice (in my husband's opinion) to the present miserable
condition of our poor State, where the blacks, our servants,
who are like little children and need to be led as such,--where
these poor ignorant creatures are put over us, their former
masters; are rewarded with office; are intrusted with dangerous
weapons--a liberty which in this case has proved fatal
to one of the higher race. It seems to my husband as if the
death of Ferdinand Morrison should be held up as a marked
warning to the entire North; this very superior, talented, and
engaging young man has fallen by the bullet of a negro, and
my husband says that in his opinion the tale should be told
everywhere, on the steps of court-houses and in churches, and
the question should be solemnly asked, Shall such things continue?
--shall
the servant rule his lord?
"We are much alarmed by the few words in Judge Abercrombie's
letter (received this morning) concerning our darling
Cicely, and we beg you to send us a line daily. Or perhaps
Miss Bruce would do it, knowing our anxiety? I pray that
the dear child, whom we all so fondly love, may be better very
soon; but I will be anxious until I hear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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