Jan. 12, 1868, from Ophelia Polk to parents. Ophelia comments on the difficulty of finding and training servants among other topics. Excerpts:
"I was in hopes Emmeline would want to cook this year for me, but she said nothing about it. She has divided off poor Eliza's children among their kin, and only keeps some of the youngest herself."
"Mr. Polk has given up the Honduras notion now entirely and is willing to return to Tenn, much to the satisfaction of the girls and myself."
"...it is true the land is splendid but the negroes are too lazy to work it as it should be, and it does not pay to live in a sickly country and make cotton. I never want to see another seed planted."
"Jan. 13th This morning a negro woman was drowned in front of our house crossing the bayou, the boat turned over with them. I felt so sorry for the mother of the girl. She was on the bank looking at them cross and the boat struck a snag and threw her daughter and little boy out..."
Item number: 230351119461
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