Abbot Letters to Hannah Rantoul

Elizabeth Abbot to Hannah Rantoul, 9 March 1839

[From Elizabeth in Baltimore, where she was attending school and living with James and Eliza Gould, to Hannah in Beverly. She describes her relationship with the Goulds; mentions having her portrait done; and talks about Elizabeth Woodberry's engagement to Charles Peabody. (The letter does not name him, and the engagement was eventually ended, but a letter dated 6 July 1880 from Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch makes it clear who he was. Also see the note from Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch to Hannah Rantoul dated 29 July 1844 and the letter dated 28 October 1847.)

Addressed to "Miss Hannah L. Rantoul, Beverly, Massachusetts." A separate notation by Hannah says "E. B. Abbot, Baltimore, March 9th 1839." A wax seal is still attached, resulting in a missing word. BHS ID# 948.001.1232.]

Baltimore, March 9th, 1839

My dear Hannah,

Another opportunity has presented itself and I, as usual, am taking advantage of it. You must not expect a long letter from me this time as my time is limited and I must write to all. Hannah I am glad to see that you love me still, for I assure you that every time I receive a letter from you makes me wish more and more to see you.

What do you find interesting in the papers about Baltimore? Did you see an account of a young man of this city who poisoned himself because a young lady, very handsome, very accomplished, rejected him, after giving him all the attention that was possible? Come to think of it, it was only in the Baltimore papers, and those you have not seen I suppose. It was an awful thing. When I come home I will give you a description of the whole affair. Every day there is something of that description taking place in a city.

What shall I say about Elizabeth's¹ engagement. You say that you think I must have been surprised, but although I am so far from you all, there is a little blackbird that brings me all the news, tells me when my friends lose their hearts, and when they are indisposed. I was not surprised. I have been expecting it ever since I left Beverly. She has written to me about "Brother William,² &c" which led me to think that it would be so soon. What do the Beverly people say? I suppose by what William Michael³ reported, that they have an idea that E and myself tried to see who could get engaged first. O! Hannah, my heart is my own yet, and will be this many a day. I am not in the least hurry to jump as it were from youth into age. I am but eighteen. What person at that age knows his own mind? I do not. I have examined myself, and find that if I see a gentleman who is pleasant, agreeable, interesting, and with manners very prepossessing, that I like his society of course better than one who is less so, but not think of such a thing as ever being united to him. My father⁴ says that I am too young to know my own mind, and I truly believe him. Don't tell Elizabeth what I say, for she will think that I refer to her but certainly I do not, as she is "past eighteen." Now Hannah what do you think upon this subject. Pretty much as I do. If you do not I think your father⁵ does as my father does.

Hannah what will you say when I tell you that I have had my portrait (not my miniature) taken. Mr. and Mrs. Gould^{6, 7} were very desirous that I should favor them, as they said, with a picture. It is now finished. I have been sitting four weeks, two hours each day, for it, and people say that I am paid for my trouble, for it is an exact likeness of Elizabeth Abbot. I cannot believe it. I cannot believe that I shall remain at Baltimore after I have gone home. I consider it quite a compliment. There is nothing but what they have done for me during my visit here. I have been every where, seen every thing that Baltimore can boast of. It is their wish that I should stay all summer, but I think that I must come home and take my father's place. I feel melancholy when I think of his going so far from us all to be gone so long a time, too. He felt very badly when he took leave of us at Baltimore. I suppose that in the course of eight or nine weeks you will again see me the same as when I left on [____] knowing little more of the different characters of human beings. I had no idea that people were so different from each other.

Give my love to William Michael when you see him. He has been very kind in his inquiries after my health, therefore I will return it with all possible pleasure. Also to Charlotte,⁸ your mother⁹ & father, & all who inquire for me. I should dearly love to see old Beverly and all its inhabitants, but what a change I shall see. When I returned from Dover every thing had changed, what will it be when I come from Baltimore. By the way I heard from Mary Louisa¹⁰ last week. She sent me a Dover paper. I think that I shall bring Mrs. Gould to Beverly with me, then you shall have an opportunity of seeing how amiable she is. My letter is short, illegible, &c, but you must take the will for the deed. When I began I resolved to write well, but my ideas were so numerous, that I forgot all about it. Write soon. Don't let an opportunity pass for if you do you will be returning evil for good. That is not right Hannah. A thousand kisses for you dear girl, when I get home I will personify them again. Farewell. Give my best love to Miss Abbot¹¹ & ask her to write me.

 

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

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