The Personal Correspondence of Sam Houston, Volume 1: 1839-1845 Page: 318

                                
highest degree of content that I aspire to. More than this I need not
ask for I can not be happy or satisfied without you. I have not enjoyed
one moment of health since you left me. Almost as soon as
you were gone I took a terrible chill and fever and have had these
every alternate day up to the present time. I have tried our usual
remedy, opium, but it has failed and I am now taking arsenic which
I sincerely hope will cure me. I perceive already that it is doing me
good although I have used it but a day and a half.
But we will talk of something more agreeable. This morning for
the first time I had the pleasure of receiving your letter to Santanna
and I must say that I was highly pleased with it.3 The sentiments are
that of pure patrition and high-souled [blurred] and the language is
just such as I would wish. I was a little concerned at your allusions
to a Santa Fe traitor, but I suppose you would term that a charmless
presence. Your retorts of his charge of perjury were very good. It is
altogether a fine document.
Mr. Jo. Ellis has been down and brought me news of the barbecue.
I am glad to hear the people there were so well pleased, particularly
the ladies, for I am not jealous, and if I were I should not be
as my dear old friend Mrs. Maxey4 and I learned (but just by minute
characterizing) that you were seen attentive to her sister Cary5
[blurred].
I have not yet told you anything about our dear boy! His health
is very fine, and he continues to grow rapidly. Poor fellow! he was
sadly distrest when you sent him back, but I administered his usual
cordial, and he was soon smiling through his tears, and his blue
eyes looked up as joyously as every violet. Dear boy! I exclaimed to
myself, you know not the magnitude of your affliction, and your
Mother has cured your grief, but you can only soothe and can not
cure hers. He still looks anxiously in the direction that you left, when
we ask him "where his papa is?" I have very little trouble with him,
except on rainy days, and then it is with great difficulty that I keep
him within doors. He has learned to make a very good bow, and I
think when you come home, you can soon teach him to make an
elegant one.
I am anxiously expecting bro Vernal's return who will of course
bring me news of you. Mr. Holliman, also I shall expect very soon.
Heaven grant that they may bring me news of your improved health
and hopes of a [blurred] reunion!
318 : CHAPTER VI