Letter from Cynthia Force Stead to her Uncle Manning Force

Washington DC
December 19, 1882

Dear Uncle Manning,

I would have acknowledged your postal order more promptly but that I did not want to tell you we had not heard from Peter. We have written to his mother asking her to write but have received no answer. Peter was given one dollar especially to telegraph his arrival and an addressed postal card but he used neither. After all stages of expectation and anxiety we have to accept silence as a proof of his safety for if he was not with his mother she surely could not remain silent.

Mama and I are going this afternoon to see Robert's houses finished; one is occupied and the other may be rented by noon; he was obliged to rent them for tehy were not finished before teh elections and they were disastrous to real estate here for the time being. One was rented to Capt. Strong who wanted to buy it, but he was ordered to Ft. Leavenworth; the other is rented to a naval surgeon and Robert says $800 a year gives a very good percentage on the cost but he wanted to sell and build again next summer.

Mamie is out shopping; she keeps stronger than last winter, but by no means as well as I should like her to beMama has bought soem chickens and takes great pleasure in them and thinks it will be delightful to have fresh eggs of our own; at present her chickens do nothing but eat, and Mamie will not listen to their being killed but goes otu and pets them more even than Mama. I saw Dr Garnett today and he spoke of how remarkably well Mama had been adn contiued ever since that operation in June, and he thinks she is past all danger of a return, but she has to be very careful fo her strength. I was glad to receive both papers adn read Aunt Francie's report with a great deal of interest. With love and wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for you all, I am

your loving neice,

Cynthia

Translation notes:

Peter Evans Force (1868-1930) lived with his Uncle William Q Force after his father Henry Clay Force, 1832-1874 died. He struggled with being homesick and returned to Alabama to be with or near his mother and her 2nd husband, Willam Martin. Cynthia is the daughter of William Q Force and niece of Manning Force.