October 28th, 1866.—It has been said “the course of true love never does run smooth,” but our marriage seems to have met with the approval of all concerned. I am glad it is so. Both families are perfectly satisfied, no one comes to the front with objections as is often the case. We will live here with Father and Mother and I fail to see what more I could ask of life.
October 2016
October 16th, 1866.—Father has given me a beautiful little book to read, “The Ribbon of Blue.” It tells of the necessity of love and forbearance in the married state and is full of selections from poets, who have written on that subject. And yet, after all, there is no advice better than was given to us by an old negro preacher, when we met him on the road.
He stopped us and said, “I done hear dat you chilluns is gwine ter git marri’d.”
“That is so,” said my Soldier. “What do you think of it, Uncle Caesar?”
“I thinks well of it, but I got suppin’. fur ter tell de bofe of you, Trus’ in de Lord, dat is needful, but dere’s anurer thing: don’t you nebber, de two er you, git mad at de same time.”
Now, if that is not matrimonial wisdom I cannot see where you will find it.
October 5th, 1866.—My dress has been bought and Mrs. Kinnebrough says she will have all my things ready; the dress is of plain white silk, to be trimmed with pearl bandings and illusion. With it I am to wear Sister Mag’s lovely set of pearls. I like time-honored customs, so have ordered a wreath and corsage bouquet of orange blossoms from Paris. They will come on the next steamer. There is one time-honored custom, however, which will not be observed. There is to be nothing intoxicating served to the guests at my wedding. No wife nor mother shall look back with mortification to my wedding night. Another custom also has been prohibited by Mother’s orders: She has let all our friends know that “no wedding presents must be sent.” She says the South is impoverished, there are few who can afford to give a handsome gift and yet almost every one will spend that which they can ill-afford, rather than be outdone in generous giving. I am well satisfied with this arrangement. I would not like to think our friends had deprived themselves to give to us. Mother is quite right.
We have company most of the time these days, coming and going, day by day. Sometimes I think I would like the quiet home life just now.
