Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch to Hannah Rantoul, 27 December 1845

[From Elizabeth in Tarboro, North Carolina, to Hannah in Beverly. She describes the house she'll soon be moving into; says they had a quiet Christmas; describes the negro holiday time between Christmas and New Years; talks about the upcoming "great change" in her life (her first child Nathaniel, born 18 March 1846); and mentions and asks about activities and mutual friends.

Addressed to "Miss Hannah L Rantoul, Beverly, Mass." A separate notation by Hannah says "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarborough, N. C., Dec. 27th, 1845." Postmarked "TARBOH N. C. Dec 28[?]." A wax seal is still attached, resulting in a missing word or two. BHS ID# 948.001.1281.]

Tarborough, Dec 27th, 1845

My dear Hannah,

My next letter will be written at my own fire side so comfortable, though we shall hardly need fires if it is as warm and pleasant as today. My windows have been open nearly all day. You can hardly imagine one to have been more busy than myself the last week or ten days, and by New Years day, that is New Years morning, I shall sit down as mistress of my own table. Perhaps you have imagined me there already, but we both thought as there was no particular hurry about moving, we would take it leisurely.

I am much pleased with my house. It is very convenient for a southern one particularly. I have six good sized rooms besides garret rooms and a kitchen away from the house, and that is as much as I wish for the care of. Now my friends must come and see me there, and let me enjoy them, and you dear H. must not forget. You will be cordially welcomed you know of course. I should be delighted.

And now let me assure you of the welcome your letter received. I was disappointed a day or two, but it did come so nicely filled at last. Do not forget to cross them. I am a great adept at reading writing in all ways, and your hand is so familiar! How many times have we been seated at the same desk writing in our extract books together. I have them all with me. Every piece recalls something pleasant. I take them down from my bureau, and look them through quite often. You warn me about leaving your letters about, especially the last. It was a very modest one indeed. Do not fear, no eye but mine reads them. You may write as unreservedly as you will, they are safe.

E. Woodberry1 wrote me of some reports in circulation about Mrs. H. Brown2 & daughter3 too awful for belief. Write me if there is any foundation for them, and what will be the consequences. You must have heard them.

Christmas has passed, and of course we did not receive any invites abroad. I staid at home quietly, ate my turkey, without my plumb pudding. Heard crackers fire, and negroes laugh, and every body seemed cheerful and happy. But the weather was not fair, it was cloudy and damp all day.

From the 25 of Dec'br to the 1st of January are negro holidays, and flocks and crowds from the country, all dressed up in their clean new suit of homespun may be seen about town, with plenty of money in their pockets (the result of a year's saving) ready to purchase anything for their wives or lassies that may happen to suit their fancy. Indeed some of them I look at with pleasure, so delighted do they appear, and who would wonder! Just imagine a negro to have a wife belonging to a different master, perhaps miles distant. This is the only real time they have to enjoy each other. Must they not value every moment, when it does come, and would it not necessarily make good faces bright?

Perhaps you will wonder where they got their money. Every negro has much time that he can employ as his own, and he that is industrious will find sufficient little jobs, such as cutting wood, doing errands, &c., for which they are always well paid. Now the past week we have employed many. Some that have no wives and nothing to employ themselves about, will take these holidays as laboring ones, and beg of you for work and make many dollars.

You tell me that H. Conant4 is my successor, she will make a good Secretary, and that you are only an Honorary Member to the Abby Moulton5 Society. How does that poor thing get along now? Is she well? Ga6 told me when I was at home that I appeared to care more for her than any one else. She is to be pitied any way you can look at it. Never shall I forget those nights that we watched with her, and that cat how she troubled us. Every night when I put on my night dress, and see the trimming that I worked up then, I think over all our sieges with that girl.

By the way dear H, do you want a cat? An old one that has been living with Mr. Williams' family seems so much attached to the house that she has not departed with them, and is there still. I only wish she was pretty and not cripple. I would immediately own her, but she has lost one foot, is yellow and lame, and comes up to me with her most pitiful moans every time I go out into the yard. I wish some one would have her that loved her, for I do not, nor cannot. I will send her on, and you may repay me with a nice plum pudding. She will do for a New Years Gift.

I wish you a Happy New Year dear girl with all my heart. How many changes have taken place during the last, and how many will take place during the coming one! Many will be married that are now single, and many will be called to mourn the loss of some dear friends. It may be my loss. I think of our large family. How miraculously it has been formerly favored. Can we always expect it? I am not sad, but a New Year is always calculated to awaken thoughtful feelings.

And a few months will make a great change in my cares. I do not realize what is about to take place. I am so well that it does not seem as if suffering was near at hand, but the pleasure a[____]ward I shall enjoy beyond what words can tell. You doubt as to my flesh being equally distributed. If that is not funny! It is rather so. Without joking, I am actually fleshy in my face, as much so as you ever saw me, and more so than I have been for years. My colds have all left me, and a sore throat I have not had this winter. This climate is decidedly more favorable for my constitution, and if that is the case, you will be glad that I am here, will you not, if I will come and see you once in a while?

I did sympathize with Mrs. Ellingwood, but I can't say that I was ever so "fainty" in company. I never was faint in my life, & it always seems to me something that can be dispensed with. I behaved pretty well, only I had nothing to take up my attention, and so I gave up to my feelings more than was necessary.

Is Mrs. Preston's7 baby8 a boy or girl? And how old is it?

E. W. writes me that she loses flesh. A Southern climate was better for her I judge. You see but little of each other now.

I suppose Abby Foster9 will be married this winter.

I hope Ga's letter tomorrow will tell me of Charles10 arrival. She has been long watching and waiting, and she is not well calculated for the bright side of the picture. She is a little gloomy at such times, tho' heretofore she has written in good spirits.

Although it is so warm today, during the past week there has been a few days of skating, what has not been known here for several winters. Those that had ice houses were busy filling them, supposing it their only chance. Ice about a foot thick. We too have had a snow. That hardly staid long enough for me to look at it before it was gone. It looked then like Yankee land.

My next my dear I hope will be longer and better, but this must satisfy you after a busy tiresome week. Good night, much love for all your family, and sweet dreams for you. May you visit Tarboro in some of them, and see me as I am your ever true and affectionate sister

E.

  1. Elizabeth Bowen Woodberry (1817-1888)
  2. Betsey Lovett Chapman (1818-1891)
  3. Possibly Caroline Elizabeth Brown (1845-)
  4. Hannah Kilham Fiske Conant (1822-1921)
  5. Abigail Moulton (aft 1822-1847)
  6. Georgiana Abbot (1823-1848), Elizabeth's sister
  7. Maria Lowe Salter (1820-1892)
  8. Nellie Endicott Preston (1845-1933)
  9. Abigail Stephens Foster (1822-1892)
  10. Charles Elisha Whitney Lamson (1820-1889)