A letter from a Pharisee who thanks the Lord she is not as
other women are; she need not pray, as the Scotch parson did, for a good conceit
of herself. She writes, “I feel that I will not be ruined. Come what may, God
will provide for me.” But her husband had strengthened the Lord's hands, and
for the glory of God, doubtless, invested some thousands of dollars in New
York, where Confederate moth did not corrupt nor Yankee bummers break through
and steal. She went on to tell us: “I have had the good things of this world,
and I have enjoyed them in their season. But I only held them as steward for
God. My bread has been cast upon the waters and will return to me.”
E. M. Boykin said to-day: “We had a right to strike for our
independence, and we did strike a bitter blow. They must be proud to have
overcome such a foe. I dare look any man in the face. There is no humiliation
in our position after such a struggle as we made for freedom from the Yankees.”
He is sanguine. His main idea is joy that he has no negroes to support, and
need hire only those he really wants.
Stephen Elliott told us that Sherman said to Joe Johnston, “Look
out for yourself. This agreement only binds the military, not the civil,
authorities.” Is our destruction to begin anew? For a few weeks we have had
peace.
Sally Reynolds told a short story of a negro pet of Mrs.
Kershaw's. The little negro clung to Mrs. Kershaw and begged her to save him.
The negro mother, stronger than Mrs. Kershaw, tore him away from her. Mrs.
Kershaw wept bitterly. Sally said she saw the mother chasing the child before
her as she ran after the Yankees, whipping him at every step. The child yelled
like mad, a small rebel blackamoor.
SOURCES: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 389-90
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