Grass Valley, June 18, 1859
My dearest Miss –
Just let me say,
that I’ve felt very sad,
at not receiving from yourself,
What always makes me glad.
You ask, perhaps, what that may be,
That from sad thoughts unfetter-
I answer that ’tis nothing less,
Than getting of a letter.
A letter from a lady, too,
A lady whom I prize,
A lady who though never seen,
Is still before my eyes.
This seeming contrariety,
Is yet a fact most true,
For in the mind an image rests,
Esther – an image – you!
How came it there I cannot tell,
No more than I can say –
Why comes the darkest hour of night
Just ere the break of day.
To who it is while lying down
And wrapt in soundest sleep.
We dream of things, that in their turn,
Will make us laugh or weep.
To graves as with a chisel sharp
Upon the solid stone –
A fairer name, that seems e’re since
To be for me alone.
For me Alone – for me alone!
Kind Fate grant this behest,
And let my hank’ring spirit find
So coveted a rest
Only one thing I more would ask –
“Tis that thou woulds’t impart
The solid, lasting, joyful fact
That we are one in heart.
Esther and Edwin, grant kind Fate,
They may be join’d as one –
In heart, in mind, in thoughts,thr’o life,
A heaven on earth begun.
Dear Esther – one thing more to ask –
That is – how soon shall we,
Be partners in all else as well
As in our.
E. F. D
If you can any way spare the time please write me a letter soon. Without you helping hand I feel lonesome indeed. Do write once more and oblige. Your E. F. D