Sunday 27th [July 1862]
Rather cool this morning. We had catfish for breakfast. Mr. Henry got a very nice one yesterday from one of Smith’s negroes at the bridge. He let the negro have some wire & he is to get one third of the fish that is caught. Atheline was sick yesterday evening & is not well this morning, headache. Jinnie has taken the children to Mrs. Night’s. Willie is no better. Mr. Henry has gone up to see Mrs. Cook. He wants to send some work to T. Cook by Cordelia so I am alone. I am writing in the hall. I must now see about dinner & then I must write to Dora & co. I want some dumplings for dinner. Mrs. W. Johnston sent here last night for some coffee. Mr. Henry will let her have 5 lbs. for 5$. He sold 5 lbs. for 5$ last week. That is a dear drink. We have had dinner, had black berry dumplings for they were very nice. We had honey & cream with them as sugar is getting too scarce. It is selling at 40 cts. per lb. in Asheville. I took a nap before dinner & now Mr. Henry is taking one. Old Mr. Boyd & daughter eat dinner here today. She is going to stay down at Ratliffe’s where Mr. Boyd is at work. Mr. Boyd’s family are not doing well. One of his daughters leads rather a loose life at home.
I want to take a long walk this evening. Willie seems right better today. That is, he is not so cross. My teeth have been aching all day. Mr. Henry got me hot ashes twice last night. They ached very badly for a while. We have not been up with Willie for several nights. I have written to Sister Jane & co today.
Monday 28th [July 1862]
Made Hanes’ pants & sewed some on Lonzo’s. Willie very fretful. Mail brought no news of importance. A clear warm day. Mr. Henry went to Asheville, brought no news.
Source: Diary of Cornelia Henry in Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journal and Letters of the Henry Family. Clinard, Karen L. and Russell, Richard, eds. (Asheville, NC: Reminiscing Books, 2008).
