By Judy Liskey
This is another letter from Jake Souder who was in Damascus with his sister, Clara, and her family. He has met a young woman and has fallen in love with her. This has upset some of her neighbors.
He was working on the sawmill with the help of some men who didn’t really know how to do the work. His brother Phil, who was usually working with him had gone to work on the new house their brother-in-aw Billy was building for his family.
Damascus, Md 5 – 11th, 1883
Dear Doras
Clara just now gave me your letter to read, and it made me feel just as though I must write a letter to you. You ask me before I left to write to you, and let you know how Little Emma & the Widow & myself were getting along, and it has just been for the last week that the Widow has been with us: but she is lively as can be, and so much comfort to me in my troubles, for many they be. I just wish I had some way of letting these people know what I am thought of in my own country, or what my character was, for of course they don’t know, and for me to say would have no bearing. I will tell you why I say so. Since I am here, as I told you I would, I have been going with Emma Mount, and because she is just as nice & good as can be, so many fellows are jealous of it, and try in all ways to put her against me: and one woman, whose son can’t go with her, is fearful mad with me, and has hunted up every word that she can find that I ever said which might not be taken for the best, and told Emma & her ma, that I was no fit company for a lady, and was any-thing but gentlemen; and she thinks if he knew all, that I was a very low character before I came here, and no doubt leave home. What do you think of that? Mounts do not believe it, they say they have never seen anything a miss of me. But should like to expose these fools. I think a greatedeal of Emma, and do not intend to stop going with her just bcause evry body here would like to see me stop. O but she is small; I wish you cold see her. Schools are still running I was to an exhibition last night. Well I surely have been working hard since I came down. Phil is employed at the new house all the while, which leaves everything for me to see to. I have run the saw every day, then have green hands, which makes me see to the engine & all. Thought I have been doing more work than the mill ever did in so short a time. I just now finished posting my book, have not run the mill today, as Phil wanted the hands to help him put up some fence &c the house is almost done, except plastering and the plasterer commences work Monday. O but it will be such a nice building when done. I just want you to come down this fall to see us. I have no doubt but that you are lonesome, for there is so little company there. Now here quite different I go to S. School every Sunday. Phil & I go to Baltimore sometimes to hear Mr Trisel preach. We are going Sunday again. Next Sunday another young fellow is going to take Fannie Mount, and I am to take Emma, about 10 miles to their Grandma’s, just for the pleasure of the ride
Father has bought the organ at home, and I am going to have another one by the middle of June, by which time we expect to move in the new house, then all the company I will have! If you will come down, Dorcas, I surely will do all in my power to make you enjoy it, for I feel a great interest in you. My health is excellent since I left school. Now please don’t do as I do, but answer this the next day after you get it, please, for I want to receive a letter from you awful bad, and I will take pleasure in answering promptly. Tell me all things, for no one else will. Clara’s teeth are to pretty.
Love to you & your ma,
Yours with devotion. J. J. Souder
