Hickman's Mills, Mo.
Sept. 6th 1885
Miss Nannie Bentley,
My darling Nancy,--
I am sick nigh unto - crying I am so bitterly disappointed I have had my heart so set on going to church this morning & have been wishing today to come & then to think it is just pouring down rain oh I think it too bad! We don't have preaching at our church but once a month & when it rains at on that day it just gets away with me. I have been so busy all Summer & am yet, you know," there is no rest for the wicked." & I guess that's the reason I have to work so hard, because I am so mean. I went to see Lute the first of July & stayed over a week, oh Nan, I wish you could have been there. I enjoyed my visit so much, she has such a nice home & her mother, sisters, & brothers are all as nice & friendly as Lute & I couldn't say more I think she ought to be perfectly happy. I wasn't fortunate enough to see her fellow although I was crazy to, she promised me to go with me to see you next Summer, but I'll not make any calculations on going, if I do I'll be sure to get left like I did this time, when I returned home my sister (Mrs. Noland) was very sick, she was in bed for about five weeks with inflammation of the bowels we gave up all hope several times & were so rejoiced at her recovery as soon as I could leave her I came out to my sister's in the country, in search of a school, my brotherinlaw [sic] & I had an awful time as most of the schools were taken, owing to it being so late before we started, we were finally successful in our efforts & I will begin teaching "the young idea how to shoot" too weeks from tomorrow, I it is about four miles from here & a six months term at forty dollars per month. I am so tired out with sewing & getting ready I am so glad you had a good time while in Columbia. I never did think Mary D. Hickman any to bright anyway & I think her a bigger dunce than ever. I guess she thought she wouldn't need any more money. Bertie Wright was telling me about her putting on mourning for Mrs. Young, said she wore it two months & then said she & Mrs. Sherwood agreed it wasn't suited to her complexion, don't that beat any-thing? I expect Allie Mason will think she is on the road to the place before she gets through, I hope Miss Laura's advice was heeded & that you were numbered among the converts in the revival. You blessed old darling, I feel like giving you a bears hug for that picture although I was a long
Saturday night 9 o'clock. Nan, I must tell you about going to church this evening. I just "primped" & fixed & don't you think we got there as they were pronouncing the Benediction. I didn't even get to go in church & see who was there, I was so mad I couldn't see straight, a protracted meeting begins next Sunday night, if I go again I'll try & start a little bit earlier. I am about to freeze out today did you ever see such weather? One day you are freezing & the next you are melting. Oh dear, I must stop & go to bed so I can do some work tomorrow. I have so much to do. Now Nan, do write real soon for I will nearly die when school begins. I do get so homesick. Good-night pleasant dreams. Mattie Truman
time getting it. I prize it very highly indeed but it isn't near so sweet & good-looking as my darling Nan, but it don't look it had the small pox or anything of the kind & if I had hold of you I'd shake you for saying it. I think Lute's are just as good as they can be, she is prettier than she used to be & the same sweet old Lute. No she hasn't gone back on you by any means, but loves you as devotedly as ever. I don't never hear from Mary & haven't for more than a year, she went back on me, never even sent me her picture. I think it awful mean in her too. Do you know where she is? I hope you had a pleasant time when you went hunting & I know you did; everything is so dull out here there is no young folks around scarcely & what few there is are just like they were one hundred years old at the very least & if any one tries to have a little fun they think them committing the unpardonable sin. Well Nan, I guess I'll have to stop and get ready for dinner as I want to go to church this evening if it don't rain again. Nan just please write real soon & I'll have more time after I get to teaching & I get so lonesome too. Give my love to Miss Lida. Sister sends love & so do I now do write soon & direct your letters to Hickmans Mills. Lovingly yours Mattie.