Year: 1866




A most worthy enterprise indeed-ono
which will require no earnest appeals to enlist
the warm support of our people-is about to
be inaugurated in this city. a number of
true hearted Southern women in Mississippi
nave formed themselves into a ssL Ladies' South
ern Aid Association" branch Of which is
10 De established in each of the late Confed-
crate States, the object of which is to raise
fund that will place the wife and children
OF Jefferson Davis above the possibility of
want or dependence upon the charity of
friends. 1t is not only a noble object; but
debt the people of the South owe to this un-
fortunate family, for MIR. Davis riskcd and
lost his liberty and fortune in their cause.


The method adopted to raise money is by
voluntary subscription and by the sale of card
photographs of Mr.. Davis. The latter have
the stamp of the society upon the back, and
are disposed of at the rate of one dollar each
as the minimum price.


In connection with this matter. we Law be-
fore our readers the following touching and
Womanly letter from the noble wifc of Mr..
Davis:


Mill VIEW, GA, Dec. 4th, 1865,
Z. B, Caarh, Esq, Secretary and agent L.


s. d. Association:


My DEAR SIR: am in receipt of vour





Southern Aid Association" having ssfor its
object the purpose of placing" me ''and fam
lily In circumstances somewhat commensurate
with their estimate of" me and mine, and beg
glng that will at my earliest convenience, ,des-
lgnate place to which the means so collected
may be conveyed so that they may 'ssafely and
satisfactorily" reach me.


From our desolated and impoverished
friends, l scarcely expected such un express
sion of material sympathy, though my powers
of gratitude have been almost daily taxed to
thank those who have with so much heart ell
oquence, plead with the President for him
who, though unsuccessful, has given you all
he could-his best energies-and whose only
hope of future happiness lies in the sweet
trust, often expressed, that he had not lost
your confidence and love. Ignorant of all
which his own people have done for him in
his captivity, his devotion is unabated "The
unfortunate have always been deserted and
betrayed, but did ever man have less to COM
plain 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
from the family hearth are not hushed BE
loving and confding still to those from whom
l have received much more than l deserve;
far mere official honors than ever desired
Those for whose cause / suffer are not un-
worthy Of the devotion of all which had to
give" This is the message of love which is
sent through the prison gates to our own peo-
pie. / say our people, because both of us
have been brought up with you; ono of us
was born in Mississippi, the other came to her
in infancy, These are my own people, and
it is privilege of which no change of circum-
c}o T- Al.
prayers of our widows and orphans, our suffer-
men, our innocent little children, look for
the restoration to my little children of their
agonized but Christian father. IF meroiful
Providence go ordain it, we hope to live and
die among you, mutually consoling and bear
ing each others burthens. 1 pray God VIC
may not be driven forth from the home of
our childhood, "for how can We sing our own
song in strange land 2" We would not
have our dear friends betrayed by their symc
pathy into Offering for our use, too much
from their own "basket and store" I and
mine have, so far, been miraculously cared
for and shielded from want. We seem ever
environed by the love which lighted my hus-
band in his dungeon-softened his prison
walls with sunny pictures of loving eyes and
outstretched arms.


Grief and gratitude seem to impose upon
me silence: I would; but cannot say more,
will enclose within this note the names and
directions of gentlemen to whom the contribu-
tions of which you speak may be enclosed
And instead of the eloquent voice which so
often has poured forth his love to his dear
people, now mute, offer wife's, a mothers
and countrywoman's gratitude. to you and
those you rcpsescnt.


[ have the honor to be, very gratefully and
sincerely yours, VAR1NA Davis.


IFrom the Ceder Falls f1owa, cozo,,.,