December 8th, 1860.—Miss Sadie Talbot, our new governess, arrived today. She and her sister are Southern girls from Easton, Maryland.
They are tall blondes and very pretty, I think. They have the little touch in their speech which most Marylanders whom I have known have had, and it sounds real sweet from them though it sounds affected in a great big man like Mr. Burton. These young ladies were educated at Poughkeepsie, New York, but they are real Southerners, though they are not in favor of secession; but they are quite young and full of fun.
The legislature met in Tallahassee in November and Governor Perry advised that they call a convention to meet January 3rd, to consider whether Florida shall follow South Carolina’s example or not; so I suppose we will soon know our fate. Florida is a big state in area but her people are comparatively few and the settlements are far apart. Florida is a young state, too; she is only one year older than I am, so she must be almost a child still. The question is, can she stand alone? I hear all the pros and cons of this movement from both the Secession and the Union side, so I am afraid I am sometimes a little mixed as to politics. Anyway Christmas is much more interesting so I will think about that. I like Miss Sadie, (she says we must call her Miss Sadie and it is best for her sister is Miss Talbot).
Susan Bradford is 14 years old when this entry was made.