[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, December 2, 1816]

Princess Anne Dec. 2^d '16

My dearest child

This day has presented us so suddenly the rough face of winter, and it has stormed so violently and unexpectantly that we are all thrown quite off our centre, insomuch, that wou'd you think it, I had entirely forgotten that it was mail day, and did not send for my letters untill this evening after tea, when Davy, coming over with a request from cousin Nelly for the papers, reminded me of the meal I had in store. Cousin Betsy, bless her little heart! And I were just snuffing ourselves away in a corner by the stand, and beginning our evenings employment when Davy came, and so I told him to go to the office and get the papers and my letters and when he came back, cousin B. and I quietly returned them. You will know, from my having this dear girl with me to stay all night that your father has left me for Bal^t. in his new vessel. I hope sincerely that he is safe in Baltimore, having had a favorable wind yesterday morning when he left home. God forbid

that he shou'd be out in this snowstorn. Although the wind has not been high enough to warrant a fear of danger, yet I shou'd be grieved that he was uncomfortable. He is in a large ship. And with a first rate commander, our "young captain" who is so perfectly at home on shipboard, that with his good will, I hardly think he wou'd ever be anywhere else, at least not long at a time. And Amelia was delighted with her visit to us. I am glad of it, for there are few of my acquaintances to whom I owe so much in this way, as to every member of that family, or to whom I wou'd more gladly repay the debt in mind.

After having had a family literally of bustle and business for upward of 5 months, we are, all at once let down into, comparatively, still life. And whom my word, so difficult are we mortals to please, I hardly know what to do with myself. After so much company and occupation, it is rather irksome to be left quite alone, and if it were not for these dear Dennis' I don't know what wou'd become of me. Betsy came over yesterday afternoon and was not it

charming for her to be caught here in the snow? Otherwise I shou'd have been [illegible], either to hold communion with the shovel and tongs, or with my own thoughts, which of late, have been so little used to any regular intercourse of the mind, that I doubt much whether they cou'd have been brought to anything like order in discourse. At any rate I have felt, today, very little disposition to try their faculties. When you return home for good, and to be good, then I shall have have a resource on all occasions. For if I don't choose, either to talk myself (which by the bye shou'd be a great wonder) or to let you talk, which has sometimes happen'd, why then you know your harp will come in play, and I can sing, an excellent way of compounding the matter. I am delighted that you are so much pleased with this most charming instrument and confidently believe your progress will be commensurate with your pious wish to do all things that I require of you. May God bless you, my child, for this. The expressions in your letter have sunk deep in my heart, and I fully value, and understand the nature of the motives which stimulate you to exertion. Rest