The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-17
Letter from Mrs. Jefferson Davis.

The following letter has been addressed by
Mrs. Jefferson Davis to the Secretary and Agent
OF the Ladies' Southern Association
MILL VIEW Ca, December 4.-My Dear Sir
| am in receipt OF your very kind letter In the
name of the Ladies' Southern Aid Association,
having 'for its object the purpose of placing"
me land family in circumstances somewhat
commensurate with their estimate otn me and
mine, and begging that l will, at my earliest
convenience, designate a place to which the
means SO collected may be conveyed, so that
they may safely and satisfactorily" reach me.
From our desolated and impoverished friends
! scarcely expected such an expression of mate
rial sympathy, though my powers OF gratitude
have been almost daily taxed to thank those who
have, with SO much heart eloquence, pleaded
with the President TOR him who, though unsuc-
cessful has given you all he could-his best
energies-and whose only hope of future happi-
ness lies in the sweet trust, often expressed, that
he has not lost your confidence and 1--we. Igno-
rant of all which his own people have done for
him in his painful captivity, his devotion is
unabated. "The unfortunate have always been
deserted and betrayed, but did ever man have
less to complain of when he had lost the power
TO serve? The multitude are silent. Why should
they speak, save to Him who hears best the
words most secretly uttered? My own heart
tells me the sympathy eXists-that the prayers
of the family hearth are not hushed. Be
loving and coniding still to those from whom
! have received much more than l deserve
far more official honOrs than ever desired.
Those for whose canse l suffer are not
unworthy OF the devotion OF all WHICH had to
give.n This is the messenger of love which is
sent through prison gates to our own people. I
say our people, because both Of us have been
brought up with you; one of us was born in
Mississippi the other came to her in infancy.
These are my own people, and it is a privilege
of which no change of circumstances can de-
prive me. To the accepted prayers OF our
widows and orphans, our suffering but heroic
women, our brave and true men, our innoce ut
little children, look for the restoration to my lit
tie children OF their agOniZed but Christian father
If merciful providence so ordain it, we hope
10 live and die among you, mutually consoling
and bearing each others burdens. Ipray God we
may be restored to the home of our childhood, "for
how can we sing our own song in o strange lanl?"
We would not have our dear friends betrayed
by their sympathy in Offering, for our use, too
much from their own basket and storen |
and mine have so far been miraculously cared
for and shielded from want. We seem ever
environed by the love which is reflected upon us
from that which lighted my husband in his dun
geon-softened his prison walls with sunny
pictures of loving eyes and outstretched arms.
silence. / would, but cannot say more. / will
inclose within this note the names and direc.
tions of gentlemen TO whom the contributions
of which you speak may be inclosed. And
instead of the eloquent voice which so often has
poured forth his love to his dear people, now
mute, offer a wlfe's and mothers and a coun.
trywomans gratitude to you and those you rep
resent.
l have the honor to be, very gratefully and
sincerely yours, VARINA DAVIS,