Lynn Hareu Bay
Off Cape Henry Dec 27th 1882
Virginia Night In my Room
My darling Elise --
Before writing anything about our leaving
and up to the date at the head of this my first foreign
letter to you. I ant to explain my plan. The one I
intend to pursue from now until in the list is all
over. From the day we leave one port until we arrive
at the next where there is any mail communication
at all. I shall keep a regular journal; write some
thing every day to my far off sweetheart. each of
these letters will be arranged in the same way as
this on. Bound, with some sort of rough skick
on the fly leaf and always numbered. Now if you
follow the same plan we can tell immediately when we
lose anyone. I shall keep to this rule faithfully.
It's not expect that you will or can read such a letter
as this through in one day. You must make it last
longer than that. I estimate that it will be in the
vicinity of a month before the close of this letter. Many
sea days of cruise, and I shall mail it the
day we arrive at the Cape De Verde Islands. The day we
left Norfolk "all was bustle" indeed. The sailing a full
all cause suddenly. I pushed on shore at the very last
moment and got together all my photographic imple-
ments and took the opportunity to send off, "smal"
fairwell telegrams, as well as a very hurried note
to you my dear love. I found a letter from Father
in which I read quite a startling piece of news.
He says that after all I may see him in the
East as after the justification of the Corean Treaty by
the Senate, he may be made the Envoy to that country
to carry it our. To establish legation in the Coreans
copilate so. He seems quite enthusiastic on the subject
and I should not be at all surprised if things turned
out that way. In this case I should make very
strong efforts to join him and I think with every
chance of success. Then I should come home with
him much earlier that at present arranged. This
is in confidence you must remember. All my letters
to him now will be to influence him to listen to that
suggestion and my letters have very much influence
on him. Each new day seemed to give birth to some
new idea my sweet Elise, and some of them must
bear fruit sooner or later. Now, the ship left the
red town of Norfolk and ran down here, to an anchor.
Lynn Harem Bay is 22 miles from Norfolk and
only five miles inside of Cape Henry, beyond which
stretches the mighty Atlantic. from an anchorage
here we can plainly see the long sandy Cape, the
Virginia. Practically we might as well be far at
sea. as all the reminders of the land in have
left is some white sail is steamers smoke bound
(page 2)
of the hard Chesapeake. Many of us have written short
letters as I to you in the apparently vain hope to have
some passing vessel to carry them up. Our object in
anchoring here is to correct our compasses away from
the near vicinity of land, and as that correction depends
on a clear day or two, a blessing we have not yet
enjoyed, it looks as if our detention here would
amount to several days yet. So I am off at last!
Already I feel the strength, the bitterness of the trial
For myself I have no fear. But you are a woman,
by nature the weaker and not used to long sepera-
tions or fretting against the rougher side of the
world's experiences. But by nature too, your heart
should not only be the more Love, has made harder
and firmer to Love's trials. I have the utmost
and entire reliance in your honor and faith. I Know
how hard it is dear heart. I Know the strain. The
restless hours. the gloomy and desponding thought.
You cannot tell me more than I already know. __
But it will come to an end someday. That is as certain
as we both live and breathe. the real trial is a trial
of our hearts - not of time. And then the Return my
darling wife that is to be - think often of that Elise
sweetheart - think, when in your room - in the
early hours - during the long day and before the Evening
fire, that the day is sure to come when Mace your
husband, will be with you forever - his strong arms
around you_his lips to yours_his kisses on your
lips_ all all all, if Elise, the girl
he worships is worthy and faithful and true. Oh my
dear sweetheart think of this and take heart and
courage. Be brave dear heart and half the fear &
worry is gone forever. I shall not let an opportunity
pass without sending you loving words - without sending
you a bit of my heart. Did you get the photo-
graphs all night I wonder did you like them my
dear love? I can't say that I did entirely - they
give me a sort of fierce expression don't you think?
Father has gone to Kingston K.L. to see his mother
My grandma Shufeldt- but said that he intended
writing you as soon as I had finally sailed to
console you for my absence and "lace you up for
my return". I am sorry I could not find the time to
send a letter to your mother & to Nellie before we were
off. but we sailed suddenly as I said, so you must
give them my best love & say that I will write
from Porte Grande if possible. I must'nt write
so much in one day as this again as my letter will
grow tedious. I am off now to bed. My Love, My
dear darling Elise I kiss you in my dreams always.
Kiss you--Kiss you--as some day - some blessed
& man. I love you - with my entire heart.
My Love - my dear life _ goodnight. I love you.
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