Letter to ABR from Emma Taber

Archive

-

Historic Charleston Foundation

Name/Title

Letter to ABR from Emma Taber

Entry/Object ID

2009.016.1b

Tags

Needs review

Scope and Content

Letter to Emma Taber from ABR [side 1] Columbia, Jan'y 4, 1866 I received your note, Dear Burnet relating to the servant woman. Its time and spirit phased me much, for I discovered thrice the same con_____(?) freedom and trust which marked our relations and mutual inter- _______ in those halcyon days of youth and truth and freshness - before we were moved (?) out of our Charleston homes. I hope truly, that for 'auld lang syne'sake, you and I may ever be good cousins, despite the change of time and circumstances which have occurred since our last adieux were spoken four years ago, and, in defiance of even greater changes that may characterize our individual histories e'er so much again. The woman to whom you allude, in your note, I know better than Laurie does. I freely endorse all [side 2] that my young sister could have told you, confirming her natural and cultural gifts. She is indeed an accomplished lady's maid - a beautiful hair dresser, decidedly the best that I have ever been able to procure in Columbia, and in every other respect quite the maid to please the most - exacting mistress(?) I have seen much of her, and known her to be thoroughly dishonest - not more than a month ago she stole from me our entire sets of cloak trimmings. A cloak maker here employs her. I went to him, and had my measure for a cloak taken, and selected the trimmings. She made the cloak, and brought it home to me. It did not fit, and it had not been trimmed as I had directed. I went to the store, and procured(?) the trimmings I had first chosen and gave the cloak to her myself, directing her to change the trimmings. The told me that she would take the first sets of trimmings to her employer, and save me the trouble of returning thses. Trusting [side 3] to her promise, I did not trouble myself further about the matter. She appropriated the set of trimmings and I had to pay for it. Since the receipt of your note the weather has been so insufferably bad, that I have not been able to venture out at all, consequently have not been able to see the Brice's of herself. Yet, from my own observation, and experience of her faithless- ness, I am sure that if you regard my testimony concerning her, it is need- less for me to make further investiga- tions into her character. I cannot tell how much I mind giving up Charleston, as my home - yet I think it would be very trying to return there now, after an absence of four years - and such years of changes as they have been. I suppose that I would have to form fresh ties, new associations, and could expect to meet - but - few familiar faces, under the present state of things. Still, my heart will ever feel that its home is in the "sea girl city" and I'm sure that I will [side 4] never assimilate with the up-country people. I am truly sorry that I did not see you when you called on us, while we were down(?)- ________ in the "intellectual shades" of the College. It would give me much pleasure to meet you again. Would that we could hope to live over again, some of the by-gone hours we have spent together. This we must not expect - even if the same occasions should occur, in _____ feel that - we are not - what we once were, and the true inspiration will be wanting. I am glad that you liked Laurie's singing - she has much talent - but no ambition - not a particle of industry therefore I do not expect her ever to sing any better than she now does. I have devoted much time and care to any voice during the past - four years and I think I sing much better than I previous to the war. Whenever you come to Columbia, I will be glad if you will come and see you [margin of side 1] and sing for you. Remember me to Mrs. Rhett, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on one occasion. I hope yet to know her well. Perhaps one of these days you will have the pleasure of hearing us sing together. Adieu - Most truly, Emma Taber

Collection

Aiken-Rhett House

Acquisition

Accession

2009.016.

Source or Donor

Maybank, Thomas

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Thomas Maybank

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Letter

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Correspondence

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Other Documents

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

Correspondence, Personal Papers, Rhett, Andrew Burnet, 1831-1879--Correspondence, Aiken-Rhett family, Aiken-Rhett family--Correspondence

Archive Details

Date(s) of Creation

1866

Archive Size/Extent

1 page

Archive Notes

Date(s) Created: Jan. 4, 1866 Level of Description: Item

Location

Location

Room

Margaretta P. Childs Archives

Building

Missroon House

Category

Permanent

Date

February 7, 2023

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Rhett, Andrew Burnet

General Notes

Note

Tag Date: 2010-12-20 16:24:50.999000 Notes: Transcription by Elise Haremski, graduate student in the Clemson Historic Preservation program, Dec. 2010. Needs to be reviewed/revised.

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

July 31, 2009

Updated By

sferguson@historiccharleston.org

Update Date

May 24, 2023