The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson Compiled From Family Letters and ReminiscencesRandolph, Sarah N. (Sarah Nicholas)
History
The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson Compiled From Family Letters and Reminiscences
Randolph, Sarah N. (Sarah Nicholas)
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
My dear Cornelia--I have owed you a letter two months, but
have had nothing to write about, till last night I found in a
newspaper the four lines which I now inclose you; and as you are
learning to write, they will be a good lesson to convince you of
the importance of minding your stops in writing. I allow you a
day to find out yourself how to read these lines, so as to make
them true. If you can not do it in that time, you may call in
assistance. At the same time, I will give you four other lines,
which I learnt when I was but a little older than you, and I
still remember.
"I've seen the sea all in a blaze of fire
I've seen a house high as the moon and higher
I've seen the sun at twelve o'clock at night
I've seen the man who saw this wondrous sight."
All this is true, whatever you may think of it at first reading.
I mentioned in my letter of last week to Ellen that I was
under an attack of periodical headache. This is the 10th day.
It has been very moderate, and yesterday did not last more
than three hours. Tell your mamma that I fear I shall not get
away as soon as I expected. Congress has spent the last five
days without employing a single hour in the business necessary
to be finished. Kiss her for me, and all the sisterhood.[56]
To Jefferson I give my hand, to your papa my affectionate
salutations. You have always my love.
TH. JEFFERSON.
P.S.--_April 5._--I have kept my letter open till to-day, and am
able to say now that my headache for the last two days has been
scarcely sensible.
[56] Mrs. Randolph's five daughters--Anne, Ellen, Cornelia,
Virginia, and Mary. She had at this time only two
sons--Jefferson, her second child, and James Madison.
_To Thomas Jefferson Randolph._
Washington, Oct. 24th, 1808.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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