Christmas, 1861

This is the saddest Christmas I've ever had.  With Papa, 
Hall, and Mark gone, everything seems so quiet around here.  
Sarette and little Lucas are staying with us for Christmas, 
and maybe until Mark comes back.  Camden told me he's 
itching to go fight.  I keep trying to tell him that he 
couldn't do Papa any good off fighting, but he won't listen.  

Jessie says he wants to "make a man of himself" whatever that 
means.  Jessie says Mama has been crying at night.  I don't 
know how she can hear her.  I'm right beside her in the bed 
and I can't hear her.   Jessie said her uncle Jules came up 
to the house the other day while I was writing a letter to 
Preston and tried to convince her to spy on what goes on.  

Jessie says the other slaves are getting antsy, what with Papa
gone away.  Jessie says they're getting lazy and good-for-nothing
without a real overseer, but I don't see anything different going 
on.  Jessie says that's cause the house servants aren't the ones 
causing the trouble.  It's the field hands. I think Jessie's just 
too nervy.