Letter from William Hardy to Sallie Johnson; 06 July 1860

              Raleigh Miss
July 6th 1860
Dear Miss Sallie
	I promised you when in Brandon that I would for the future cease to annoy you with my frequent epistles. I am let to the conclusion that they are annoyances to you, from the brevity of your answers, as well as, from an actual knowledge of the fact that my letters are not very meritorious. Yet I have concluded to write you this one anyhow, as it may contain something that might interest you.
	It is generally the case that I have an aversion to letter writing, but I must say that in our correspondence, every letter – and I have written a good many – has been a source of pleasure to me, that I will ever appreciate and regard as sacred through life, whether in affluence or in adversity; Even when old age shall gild my head with his silvery locks – and the [___] Tooth of time shall have furrowed my brow – Even then will I look back to this correspondence with feelings of pleasure and delight. Hence, pardon me for writing &c.
	What do you think when I tell you Dr. P— was most ingloriously disappointed in the acquaintance of Miss Mattie R—. I think his heart was perfectly refrigerated; so much so that it amounted almost to chagrin. Her disappointment was sad and so revolutionized his feelings and senses that I think he is incapable of doing her – Miss Mattie – justice. I accounted for it, I think in a very satisfactory