July 14, 1862
Father & Mama went to Conneconara today leaving Patrick and I alone in the house. On looking back I find it is nearly two years since we have been in this house alone! Everything is so still and quiet that it presents a strange contrast to the noise & confusion of last week. A dream idleness seems to over take me, & Patrick being in bed to keep off his chill makes the silence & quiet more felt. I believe I love quiet. I thoroughly enjoy this day. Not that I am inhospitable or annoyed by children, but they are not part and parcel of my enjoyment. They are a thing aside, as it were, to me & when they leave I fly back at once like a spring bent out of place & resume old habits & old modes of thought without once missing them; & yet I do thoroughly enjoy their prattle when I have it & never mind any trouble they give me or the servants. The continued noise some times wearies me, but I always make allowance for that. Certain it is, however, with Patrick at home I never suffer with ennui & long for no other human companionship except father’s & brother’s. I am afraid I do not love many people; they are not necessary to me.
Have just been overlooking the work on the Flax, having the seed stripped off. We have a good crop and the fibres seem strong. I will get a wheel & learn to spin it & at least spin some towels & gloves for Patrick & father. Patrick, God bless him, is better today but far from well. If his fever does not fall tonight I must send for the Dr.
Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html
