Abbot Letters to Hannah Rantoul

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

[From Elizabeth in Tarboro, North Carolina, to Hannah in Beverly. Elizabeth was four months pregnant with her first child Nathaniel (born 18 March 1846). She mentions a trip back home to Beverly "not much more than a month" ago; describes with much amusement witnessing a yearly "muster" required for everyone in the county between 18 and 45; and describes her dislike of mules.

Addressed to "Miss Hannah L Rantoul, Beverly, Mass." A separate notation by Hannah says "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarborough, N. C., Oct. 26, 1845." Postmarked "TARBOH N. C. Oct 26." A wax seal is still attached, resulting in a missing word or two. On the first page, in the date the "7" has been overwritten, apparently by pencil, with a "6." BHS ID# 948.001.1278.]

Tarborough, October 27th, 1845

My dear Hannah,

It seems a long while since I saw you, though it is really not much more than a month. Can you believe we have seen each other? It all seems strange and dreamy until I come to think seriously of it and then it gives me much satisfaction. I feel contented and happy, and found every thing and every body so much as they used to be that till I come again I shall enjoy the delightful thoughts of my first visit home, and indeed it will never be forgotten. You and E.¹ too appeared so friendly and interested in me! I ought to be thankful that I am so blessed, for I consider that I have every thing that this world could give me. I did not know how much I loved you all, till I was separated from you. We did not see enough of each other last winter dear H. We did not realize that it was the last. What am I saying, the last? No indeed.

I am about to move into a house of my own, where I expect to enjoy so much. You and E, and our family, each will see me there. How I should love to have you this winter, though I fear it will be January ere we get well settled. That will be time enough!

I am as busy as you well might suppose, though I have one present that I shall not have to trouble myself about getting, Jane's² parting gift. I cannot help laughing when I look at them. I long to see them on somebody's cunning foot. Whose will they grace first? This ought not to be put on paper, but my dear H., I feel when I write as if I were with you talking, and you must[?] enjoy with E. my strange remarks, and use your own discretion as to showing my letters to my Pa.³ Those that will not do for his eyes Ga⁴ can read sometime when you are alone with her, it will answer just as well.

I am placed in a new situation, and no doubt many of my remarks will be odd to you. But the time is coming dear H. when you will find as funny as I do. I am very well, and since I saw you have gaind flesh. After the fatigue of my journey was over, I had a fine appetite, and am very well. My jump out of the hack at the Providence depot that gave E. so much uneasiness did me much good, though I shall not try it often, as she begged of me so hard to desist. I saw tears in the poor girl's eyes as she spoke to me of it, and I knew that she felt deeply. Ought I not to be thankful for so much interest? Be assured that I am.

I am a widow today. Jo. Henry⁵ had an invitation for us both to go to a Masonic funeral 12 miles from town in a friend's carriage. It was damp & chilly, and he feared for me at this time, as he said it was real Fever & Ague weather, and he tries to keep me from having the first chill, and so with his advise, and without much inclination to go into a crowd, I staid at home. He refused the invite but I urged his going, though I dislike to be deprived of his society of a Sunday, so little do I see him week days.

This week he has been very busy, and evenings he has been engaged at the store marking and arranging his new goods. Twice a year I shall have to lose about three evenings of his company, but I read & work so industriously that time flies rather more speedily than if I were idle. I you could take your work and run in to sit with me.

Well dear H. you must come as soon as I get well settled, and see me manage the little blacks. They shall tie up your shoes if you would like to have them.

I never wanted you to see any thing so much as I did the "Muster" yesterday. The ladies about here have all told me that I should be highly amused, and tried to prepare me for the appearance of the troops and privates, but their preparation did not as sway [?] with the ridiculous. We can enjoy the ridiculous, and I thought I could hear you laugh. I know you wl'd have roared aloud. The young & old under the age of 45 and over 18 in the whole county of Edgecombe, are obliged to be reviewed by the General once a year at Tarboro, properly equipped with a musket &c. They formed a line, and the review took place in the street directly opposite my window, and I feared to laugh too much for fear they would think me no judge of the military. Of all the tall, shank, bony, awkward men, that I ever saw in my life, some in the great muster exceeded them. The officers were many of them on horse, and our young men of Tarboro, handsomely dressed in uniform on fine horses, and made fine horsemen. But the poor privates looked old, even older than I imagined the people in the ark did, some with the end of their muskets pointing to the ground, looking as if they were frightened to hold them at all, some with them standing up erect, with eyes stared open, and stiff as if they were starched and bound up in bucksaws, while others, poor, ragged looking boys, carried corn stalks, and Hickory poles, too poor even to own a gun. I never did see such a set. And when they cried aim they would each look at the others to see which way to point, & by the time another order was given, they would have just found out how to obey the last. And their marching, some would go like Mr. Pousland, some men [?] to keep up with the fine tunes that were played, and every little while the Captains of the different companies would take his old rusty sword and give them all such a punching to keep them in a straight line. They tried as hard to do smart as you ever knew any to, and perhaps it is because I am ignorant that I thought they did not. About 3 o'clock they were dismissed & each went to his respective home, some twenty miles off & others shorter distance. And the vehicles that they come in and the poor old starved mules that they drive, are poor shabby concerns.

I did not see any Molasses Candy [____] I saw cakes that I could hide under, so large, and after they were set at liberty the old women drove the old bony horses among the crowd, and sold her cakes as fast as she could deal them out. It was a regular description of an old fashioned militia traing that I have read of, that I saw in reality. They were very orderly, & I saw no intemperate men that day. The blacks were in ecstasies, & Mrs. P. could hardly get her business attended to.

I never want to ride with a mule. Of all the stubborn, ugly looking animals, they are the worst, and these gingerbread women must have started from their homes sometime in the night, to have reached Tarboro in time to sell their cakes. They are considered able to bear more burden, & for real labor are better than horses. The day that I came to Tarboro, I came in a covered Carryall & two mules & two mules to drag us. It rained poring [?], and I really think the old lazy things went slower all the way after that. All the beating and whipping you can pay upon them will only make them worse. And a negro just holds the reins & [__?__] it.

I was in the store yesterday and a black came in, & says "Missa please wants you to send some patterns of Cashmere for dresses." Jo. Henry went to work fixing them & says to me "that negro has come 25 miles for these patterns." That is the way they trade. Make nothing of tackling up & coming to town after a dress, taking hours to go & come. I looked out of the door, & saw that the poor fellow had to ride a mule, & I hoped he had a good share of patience. He will come down this week, & get a dress. So many miles had to be gone over to get one. I know the lady. It was Mrs. Taylor that I visited this summer, a fine woman.

Every thing is strange and new. The habits & customs are so different from with us. People take so much trouble to do nothing. You would see as much as you could do to understand for several months.

They have has a Camp Meeting lately in the neighborhood & got but two converts.

I am afraid to cross much to you on this paper, as it is so thin. Get some dear H. and make G'a put a letter inside of yours when you write. I have written her a little note for your charge. Tell me if you pay more than 10 cts. It is so thin, Jo. Henry told me that I could with safety do so.

I rec'd a beautiful letter from George⁶ last week. He felt sadly to go away without seeing me married.

Give much love to E., & say I am looking this week for a letter, and next one from you. Remember me to all your family & for your own dear self keep a great share. Kiss E. and have a nice time reading this letter together.

Yr. aff. sister, E.

I am just going to seal your letter, and then eat my dinner alone up in my chamber. I do not want to go down today without a beau. Ria stands here ready to feed me. I reckon she thinks I can't eat without she looks at me. I am going to send her off, for I can't get used to this waiting upon.

Jo. Henry sends his love, he left it with me this morning. Write me a good long close letter. Good bye again.

E.

Your peaches did me much good. I was sorry to eat the last.

 

Copyright Charles Towne. Usage of this work is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0
Compiler: Charles Towne

Page created by John Cardinal's Second Site v8.03.