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Title:
Letter from Eleanor Swain Atkins to Cornelia Phillips Spencer,
May 12, 1865: Electronic Edition.
Author: Atkins, Eleanor Swain
Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text transcribed by
Bari Helms
Images scanned by
Bari Helms
Text encoded by
Sarah Ficke
First Edition, 2005
Size of electronic edition: ca. 12K
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005
© This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and
personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the
text
The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
Languages used in the text:
English
Revision history:
2005-08-01, Sarah Ficke finished TEI/XML encoding.
Source(s):
Title of collection: Cornelia Phillips Spencer Papers (#683), Southern
Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title of document: Letter from Eleanor Swain Atkins to Cornelia Phillips
Spencer, May 12, 1865
Author: Ellie Swain Atkins
Description: 3 pages, 3 page images
Note:
Call number 683 (Southern Historical Collection,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Editorial practices
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
Letters, words and passages marked as deleted or added in originals have been encoded accordingly.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see the section Editorial Practices.
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
Letters, words and passages marked as deleted or added in originals have been encoded accordingly.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see the section Editorial Practices.
Page 1
May 12, 1865
My dear Mrs Spencer
,
I was never more surprised, provoked, & distressed in my life, than when I found, by accident, this
evening, that Pa
had been showing letters (to me) of all things on earth the most
sacred. Letters written for my eye alone; & only trusted to my Father
as an
act of duty; without the least thought that any other than himself should
read them. Unlike myself, he seeks rather than avoid the opinion &
advice of the world. It was enough to have exposed the first letter, but past comprehension, the second. He was guided by
what he considered best for me, but very much against my wishes I assure you. It takes from the letters their true value
to have them reduced to matter of fact, as much as to expose to the world's
eye, "the hidden treasures of the heart." The last letter
(in fact neither one does him justice) written in haste amid all the trouble
of real camp life. As to what "people say" Pa's
great failing is to care too much, as to
myself but one voice can prevent this "affair," &
that is one higher than man. I am much obliged for your kind
"endorsement," & hope this secret may be kept.
had been showing letters (to me) of all things on earth the most
sacred. Letters written for my eye alone; & only trusted to my Father
as an
act of duty; without the least thought that any other than himself should
read them. Unlike myself, he seeks rather than avoid the opinion &
advice of the world. It was enough to have exposed the first letter, but past comprehension, the second. He was guided by
what he considered best for me, but very much against my wishes I assure you. It takes from the letters their true value
to have them reduced to matter of fact, as much as to expose to the world's
eye, "the hidden treasures of the heart." The last letter
(in fact neither one does him justice) written in haste amid all the trouble
of real camp life. As to what "people say" Pa's
great failing is to care too much, as to
myself but one voice can prevent this "affair," &
that is one higher than man. I am much obliged for your kind
"endorsement," & hope this secret may be kept.
No, indeed, I have all I desire in most noble heart & mind entrusted to my keeping. I trust you did not think me so wanting in true refinement that I would have been willing to allow this exhibition? With assurances of high regard"The world may scorn me if it will
I care but little for its scoffing."
I am yours most truly,
Ellie Swain
Page 2
Let Politicians henceforth cease to vex us
With questions of disunion and debate,
For the whole country now from Maine to Texas,
Has learned 'tis better far to love than hate.
With questions of disunion and debate,
For the whole country now from Maine to Texas,
Has learned 'tis better far to love than hate.
This boasted age of progress & invention,
In this our saddest day of war's alarms,
With closest scrutiny & strict attention,
Has brought us nothing new, at least in arms.
In this our saddest day of war's alarms,
With closest scrutiny & strict attention,
Has brought us nothing new, at least in arms.
They talk of "Armstrongs,"
"Parrotts," of invaders,
Of sieges, sallies, & of wide spread ruin,
But all their arms, & wide mouthed Peace-persuaders,
Cannot make Love, altho' they may make Union.
Of sieges, sallies, & of wide spread ruin,
But all their arms, & wide mouthed Peace-persuaders,
Cannot make Love, altho' they may make Union.
The best artillery is found to be the oldest,
And Peace hath conquests too, by no means narrow,
The wisest soldier, & perchance the boldest,
Yields to a pair of blue eyes, and a bow & arrow.
And Peace hath conquests too, by no means narrow,
The wisest soldier, & perchance the boldest,
Yields to a pair of blue eyes, and a bow & arrow.
Page 3
This note written last night under the act of
provocation I think better of it this morning & send his
Photo for your inspection & a very poor
one it is, the upper part of the face bears some resemblance. An acrostic
not good either but his first
sentiment as well as song. The second line of the last verse he changed in a note to me the
day he left CH ("Which is of love I now can tell") you see from this it was
a gradual affair. Ellie is caught at last in
her known net.
I had nothing to hide when the Yankees came among us except my self, this I had no fear of being stolen, but see
the result!
I gave this to Pa
to read & he wishes me to tell you this
fact: professes to be somewhat "abused" but I think more amused. Cat's snarls are only
laughed at & her scratches unnoticed
provided they only irritate paper.
to read & he wishes me to tell you this
fact: professes to be somewhat "abused" but I think more amused. Cat's snarls are only
laughed at & her scratches unnoticed
provided they only irritate paper.
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Last updated November 17, 2006