Cross-written handwritten letter from Charleston
Book 1, Page 95
Transcription
A handwritten letter sheet, heavily cross-written: a second layer of writing runs perpendicular to the first. Heading at top right:
Charleston [illegible date]
Original orientation
[illegible] this [illegible] [illegible] he [illegible] Saunders. He denied [it] with us [illegible] day [illegible] afterwards [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] letter he was loved up [illegible] [the] [illegible] I said get you the [illegible] [illegible] elapsed [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] Naughty will go to [illegible] this [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] back to [illegible]. [I have?] not a great [illegible] [illegible] to [illegible] the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] perhaps [illegible] [illegible] in a [illegible]. [illegible] will get you a good [illegible] said. Their Barber [illegible] on Mary Lynch they thought he would. Will visit her [until?] tomorrow on the [illegible] [illegible] hand the [illegible] got through to [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] one [illegible] he [illegible] our [Brother] [&] other Brazian. [illegible] himself suffered [from] the bad [illegible] enough [illegible] passed by [illegible] [illegible]. Henry came in [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] on Friday to [illegible] [illegible] just [illegible] [illegible] from [illegible] on Friday where he [illegible] had at dinner & [illegible] from Henry was [illegible]. Sirona left on Thursday, [illegible] [illegible] Patience Davis to [illegible] her [illegible] [illegible] left [illegible] [illegible] Mr. Stocker, until he made known [illegible] [illegible] line [illegible] [illegible] do [illegible] make to get away as [illegible] [illegible] Barbara [illegible] came down [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] the Stockers. By [illegible] [illegible] Fannie [illegible] [illegible] half hour & some [illegible]. [Mr] [Brock?] went to Pat Sumter’s [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] you sent the [measure?] to Nell for the boy [clothes?]
[The letter continues in cross-writing — perpendicular to the original direction. Read by rotating the page 90° clockwise:]
[illegible] [illegible] [illegible] I do [illegible] all [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] their [illegible] father [illegible]. I doubt see [illegible] in the B St [illegible] [illegible] waiter has been [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] getting their office [illegible] for [illegible] [uncertain] is J. Martin’s. He will [be] obliged to [illegible] [have] Mary [illegible] for him. [illegible] [illegible] Harriet Mitchell will [live] with her [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] Mary feels sadly at being left [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] I [illegible] day for her [illegible] he went to see her [illegible] [illegible] Thursday [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] day for her [illegible] Send Mr [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] Nothing [illegible] helps [illegible] [illegible] Monday 3 [illegible] but the [removal?] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] last night was a refreshing [rain?] [illegible] to him [illegible] he [smoke?] & feels better today, but Sambo [says?] his tongue [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] but Mr Brown [right?] tomorrow the things will be brought up with Mr Bonds [—] 4 candles, Mrs Hazel['s], the Stove & tea Kettle from this house. [illegible] Father insists on the [carpets?] [illegible]
AI Notes
A heavily cross-written handwritten letter sheet headed ‘Charleston’ with a partial date at the top. Two layers of writing run at right angles to each other. The original-orientation pass recovers a flow about Saunders, Naughty, the Barber on Mary Lynch, Henry’s visit, Sirona’s departure, Patience Davis, the Stockers, Fannie, and Pat Sumter. An enhanced rotated pass through the cross-writing (continuation of the same letter, read with the page rotated 90° clockwise) adds household-removal content: a waiter, J. Martin’s, Harriet Mitchell, Mary feeling sadly at being left, a Thursday / Monday timeline, a refreshing night, Sambo’s tongue, Mr Brown and Mr Bonds, items to be brought up tomorrow (4 candles, Mrs Hazel('s), the stove and tea kettle from this house), and ‘Father insists on the [carpets?]’. Names visible across both passes: Saunders, Naughty, Mary, Mary Lynch, Barber, Brazian, Henry, Sirona, Patience Davis, Mr Stocker / the Stockers, Barbara, Fannie, Pat Sumter, Nell, J. Martin, Harriet Mitchell, Mrs Hazel, Mr Brown, Mr Bonds, Sambo.
Page is densely cross-written; many words remain illegible even at full resolution. Letter likely continues on adjacent pages.