Letter, Alex W. Feemster to Loulie Feemster; 10/10/1863

              Selma Ala. Saturday night Oct 10th.
        Mrs M. Lou Feemster,
                          My own beloved Wife; I think "wife" is a much sweeter word than any "pet name." You will, therefore, I hope, not think it sounds "tame," or that it denotes any lack or diminution of [illegible] affection, when I thus address you. I now feel the want of a wife, with all that is meant by that precious word, more sensibly than I ever did, before experience taught me how to estimate her ^ your true worth. Am I flattering? If so, please excuse, for I speak the feelings of my heart.
    The mails seem to be doing better than usual lately, for I read your letter of the 3rd and 4th on the evening of the 6th. I read nearly all your letters about half a dozen times, but this last one I think I have read about double that often. I'm glad you fully explained your plan, for that is what I have wished to know ever since you proposed to come here. As to my having to wait on that "fretful wife (maybe) and crying baby (perhaps)," I would cheerfully undertake it. But I don't know so well about the "other question, what you will do with Mattie if you go to church?" I think however, that if we could get the other matters fixed up so we could get along, we could [tear] that. We could take it by

[margin]

You'd better try and collect the back rents, as I should think you'd need the money to pay for your weaving, if for nothing else.