Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land piratePitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
History
Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land pirate
Pitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
Copeland, James, 1823-1857; Criminals -- Gulf States -- Biography
This is the first intelligence I have had from you by letter since
I heard of the last unfortunate results of your trial. Ever since
the reception of this sad news my mind has been a complete wreck.
Both mental and physical strength have visibly declined under the
pressure of contemplated burdens which you had to bear; but the relief
which this, your last letter, has afforded is beyond the powers of
description.
In the first stages every effort was made to conceal a wounded heart,
but in vain; the countenance of sorrow was too plainly depicted to be
mistaken by those around who are acquainted with former cheerfulness.
Laboring under pungent affliction from the silent meditation of your
melancholy situation, none but myself can have any correct idea of
the internal struggles with which I was contending. Under such a
compression of the vital powers, earthly scenes had no charms for me;
but the wings of last night’s mail bore the glad tidings from you
that all is well, leaving you comfortably situated and cared for in
every respect, which affords me the most exquisite relief. From gloom
and despair to joy and hope, the transition was rapid and sudden.
The following from your pen affords a satisfaction which words are
incapable of representing:
“You will please give yourself no uneasiness of mind so far as
regards my comfort and well-being. My friends here have situated
me as agreeably in every respect as I could possibly have desired.
Perfectly composed and resigned myself, I want you to share the same,
if possible, in a still higher degree.”
All of us, well knowing your entire innocence, deeply sympathize with
you; and, as for my own part, this ordeal has only been a trial of my
devotion—not knowing before the real depth of affection, which is now
more strengthened and indelibly fixed on thee. _Fictitious signatures
cannot avail, nor indeed any other cunningly devised schemes for the
interruption of the peaceful concord which has so long been maintained
between us._
Even a brief narration of little ordinary simplicities may sometimes
be enjoyed by minds accustomed to higher ranges of thought, and which
frequently soar to loftier spheres of the grander contemplations of
nature’s wonderful works. Accordingly you will be disposed to pardon
anything which you may here find apparently of a light and frivolous
character.
There is nothing new in our village that could, I presume, be of
interest to you, unless accounts of frequent marriages would have this
effect. In affairs of this sort there has been almost an epidemic. We
have had quite an inclement change in the weather for this season of
the year. It is just now very cold, lowering, and quite unpleasant
indeed; but the joyous cheerfulness manifested by the little birds
indicate the early dawn of spring.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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