Virginia Campbell Shelton was the niece of Virginia Governor David Campbell and lived with his family in Abingdon. She was educated and helped teach enslaved house servants, like Hannah Valentine, to read and write. Her letters provide insight into daily life, education, and social issues in the South during the mid-19th Century. Below are two entries from a diary she kept.
Excerpts:
1835
January
Jan. 1— I arose very early this morning and remembering that this is the beginning of a New Year, I thought, “I shall spend this day as I wish to spend each day of the year.” However, I did not read as much as I had proposed to myself; nor were my thoughts and feelings as pure and unearthly as I had wished. After reading several chapters in my Testament, I spent the remainder of the day in sewing and reading a little in a beautiful work called “Observations of Nature.”
Jan. 3— I had anxiously expected a letter from my home by today’s mail, but when uncle returned from town I was disappointed so much that I could scarcely refrain from tears. However, I immediately was reconciled on considering how greatly I am blessed above many, and how much less I deserve. …….. I should be continually thankful for the many mercies (even unperceived by me) which are constantly flowing from the beneficent hand of my Heavenly Father.
1835
March
Mar. 24— Received a note from Miss S. T. inviting me to attend at her wedding as one of the bride’s maids.
Mar. 25— Visitors today who were very agreeable and extremely talkative, and (which is rather uncommon) they conversed on improving subjects.