From the Lebanon News of April 7, 1939:
Letter Written In Lebanon In 1846 Turns Up
Our good friend, John W. Alderson, of Forrest City, Arkansas, one of the boys of other days, who played first base on the Lebanon ball team more than 40 years ago, and made good at that, as well as in the business world, has an old letter written by William B. Aston to Margaret Alderson, the daughter of Colonel George Alderson, July 8, 1846, which will be of interest to many of our readers. It is as follows:
Dearest Margaret:
Pursuant to my promise, I now write to you. I did not get home in time to write to you by last Tuesday's mail, and consequently this is the first opportunity. I arrived at Lewisburg the evening I left you and took quarters at Rev. John McElhaney's. I remained there until the next Thursday morning. I did not mingle much with the people of Lewisburg. I found it to me rather a dry, uninteresting place. I called on James Remley and found him and his family quite interesting.
Charles L. Creigh was from home. I did not see him. Frank and myself were at the old man Creigh's, but Charley nor Lewis being there, we didn't tarry long.
I visited the white Sulphur on Wednesday which I found a beautiful and pleasant place. We left for home Thursday morning and arrived here on Saturday evening. I reached home in very bad health, and have been so ever since, but, having gone through a course of medicine, I think I am about well now, except that I am very weak from the effects of the medicine. In a day or two more I am in hopes I will be fully restored.
I hope you are in good health and spirits, entirely cheerful and lively, having nothing on earth to disturb your quiet and repose.
Upon consulting with Thomas, we came to the conclusion that it was best to put off our marriage until the 18th day of August, as to set an earlier day would not give Thomas an opportunity to visit his friends or even stay a day at his Pa's, and by fixing on the 18th we will give him sufficient time after our court to visit all his friends and be ready to return with us to Russell. I hope this arrangement will meet with your approbation. Please inform your Pa of it.
Time drags somewhat heavily with me, but it is only a little more than a month now ere I see you again, by divine permission, when I hope we will meet not to be parted soon, except as the ordinary business of life shall require.
Permanent happiness on this earth we need not expect, but I think we can live together and enjoy our fair proportion of earthly happiness. It is true our path is not be be bestrewed all the way with roses; we need not expect that. There will, no doubt, be many thorns in our path. We have all the inconveniences and troubles that poverty bring to content with from the start, but if we try properly to cheer each other up and smooth each other's path through life, as we should do, we will find that those anticipated difficulties will vanish as we approach them.
I have no news of interest to give you, therefore will give you none.
Your friends here generally well. I have had many inquiries made MADE of me since my return about &c. &c., and some mistaken friends have wished me joy.
I expect Mack and Augustus and Doc't Kernan will probably come with me, though I have not yet said anything to them about it. I will expect by tomorrow week's mail to receive a letter from you and will answer it immediately, and, being this evening somewhat in a bad condition for writing, I hope you will excuse this dry, uninteresting epistle, and believe me to be, dearest, your devoted and affectionate friend.
WILLIAM B. ASTON
Give me love to Sarah Martha. Write when you receive this.
