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Shelbyville April 10th / 48 Dear Mother
I could not think what was the couse [cause] of your delay in writing to me, but you will think I have no doubt that I ought to be the last one to complain. Since I last wrote to you I have collected very little that is new or would be interesting to you. If I could express my ideas as prettily as I would wish I would try to comply with your request — after reading a work then is many parts of it may strike me as sublime or beautiful yet I lack words to express my ideas as they ought to be — this prevents me from making an effort. I do not for one moment question the sincerity of your motives & would cheerfully do any thing to gratify you that if I felt competent to do [added: so] even to commence the profession of law though arduous as it is —
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I am sure if I was able or felt that I could accomplish any profession I would have been willing to have attempted it, you know that my thirst for more than a mere pittance would be a very great inducement aside from any other if nothing else It is true I ought to be very thankful that I have health & have been spared thus far without mourning over my condition; their [there] are many whose situation is much more deplorable than mine. from this thought & the mercies bestowed upon us every day that we live; we ought to be contented in whatever situation we may be placed. I was some what surprised to hear that the folks of Montgomery had me married. I did not think that you would be troubled at all for I am sure if I such had have been the case you certainly would have Known something about it. I would neve [never] [added: have] concealed this from you if ther [there] had been any thing of it —: as you remarked if my purse was large enough I dont Know but what their would be some danger, but the prospect of an enlargement of my purse is so gloomy that I dont think you need be alarmed yet a while. The only thing I regret is that I have all necessary preparations yet to make. It has been reported that the Cholera is in Nashville &
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has been for sometime it is nearer than that at least reported to be in Murfreesborough [Murfreesboro] which is 25 miles from this. The panic has in a great degree worn off the citizens of this place: I have me doubt that if the cholera would make its apperance [appearance] here that they would all flee to the country for refuge — & desert the place entirely as they done in 38 or when it visited them before A few nights since we had were aroused from sleep by the cry of fire a fram [farm] house was used for a grocery which stood near the business side of the squre [square] had taken fire from negligence: the night was storm[gap] the wind blew very hard and all the [gap]orce on our side took fire. I never saw such a dismal sight. Their was no person that saw the fire but [added: what] give up every thing as lost, but by the exertions of the young men principally, the buildings were all saved except the grocery — that we dont miss much. The damage from fire was about twelve hundred dollars. a great deal many goods was stolen & abused very much by moveing [moving] them out of the stores — No person was injured though their was some very narrow escapes from powder — they were so much excited that several Kegs of powder were scattered about every where & the air filled with fire — but all escaped without harm to any person Theodore A Bell
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Mrs. A. J. [Ann Jane] Bell . Charlotte Tenn [Tennessee] [added: Answered May 18[gap]]
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