The Letter Quotes

“Gently, John brought her face
into view and stroked her hair back
with a stiff, scarred hand. “I don’t
want you to worry about us either,”
he said. “God doesn’t protect us from
every danger, but He’s always with
us, helping us through it. We’re going
to face this together, my Love, with
the Lord at our side.”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter

“He tossed on the pillow, trying to dislodge the flies that tormented him every waking hour. Had there always been so many? He had never noticed them so keenly before; but now, tied to this bed, he began to think that had he been Pharaoh, he would have let the Hebrew children go anywhere they wanted, with whatever they wanted, at the beginning of the fourth plague, without any more argument.”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter

“I think we've had enough letters - of all kinds - to last us the rest of our lives.”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter

“Your grandfather must have been a wonderful man," Arabella said in an awed voice, looking about her at the beautiful house, well-proportioned barn, and the variety of shade and fruit trees so carefully and tastefully planted.

"My family," John added wisely, "says I'm very like him.”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter

“How would he protect her, as weak and wounded as he was? If the two armies were about to shell the town again, he had to find a safe place for her to be. And if the Confederates gained Gettysburg itself, they would probably take him as a prisoner. He needed to make sure that Arabella had a place of safety...”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter

“Mrs. Dodge stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm.

"John?" she called in a strident voice that made Arabella wince. "John, here's Arabella to see you."
John rolled his head with a fitful movement, and the light from the lamp at the foot of his bed fell full across his face.

Arabella stepped back with a gasp of shock.”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter

“Would you like some laudanum?” she said directly.

“No,” he answered through clenched teeth.

“You make me feel very guilty for getting Mrs. Dodge to stop giving it to you,” Arabella confessed.

“I’ve seen what can happen to a man who uses such things too freely,” John said resolutely. “There was a man in our town–” he broke off, stifling a groan. “It doesn’t matter - I don’t want the stuff, that’s all.”
― Sarah Brazytis, The Letter