Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Georgiana Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 14 November 1847

[From Georgiana Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She says George will be sailing Wednesday for New Orleans on the ship Newton under Capt. Howes; talks about Frank Bowditch being home; describes the birth of Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's son Horace; talks about Thanksgiving preparations; says the Charitable Society won't start meeting until the end of December, because most members are unable to attend; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarboro, N. Carolina."]

Beverly Novbr 14th, 1847

My dear Sister,

I suppose by this time you are thinking that it is time that I answered your letter, and so I have been thinking the last week, and today being very stormy seems just the one to write a good long letter in and tell all the news. Since I wrote you last I have been going on in the same old track, you know pretty much how. I have Margaret still with me. She has promised to stay till Charles¹ goes away, so I feel perfectly easy. She remains just as good as ever, and just as pleasant.

I little thought that I should have Charles with me so long when we were married. What I shall do when he does go away I don't know, for when he goes to Boston for one day, the day is so long that I have to go and spend part of it with Ma.² I do hope that he will stay at home all winter.

George³ thinks of sailing for New Orleans Wednesday, in the ship Newton, Capt. Howes.⁴ I am heartily glad that he is going. He is so impatient, doing nothing so long is tedious work. I have real squabbles with him sometimes, because he will spit tobacco in the airtight and splatter all over it. I hardly think you will get a letter from him before he sails. He will join the ship tomorrow, only knew of his going yesterday, and today is busy packing his chest. How Ma will miss him. Margaret says that Cora⁵ begins to lament his going already.

Of course you have heard that Frank⁶ is at home now. He has improved very much both in manner and appearance. Capt. Meacom⁷ speaks well of him. He and George propose going down or up (I don't know which) Tar river next summer. They think that they shall astonish the natives. He comes here quite intimately, and is very pleasant.

How is little Thanny⁸ now. Seems to me that I can see his little flax head just above the window seat. He will learn to talk fast now that he has begun. I am very glad that you are so well under existing circumstances. I should pity you if you were sick as when you were here about two years. But what makes you suppose that I do not feel well. I have not had one sick moment since I took that dose of medicine that Ma prepared for me. That was a cure all, at the same time visitors keep away.

Have you purchased the house that you were speaking of. I hope you have for I didn't like the idea of that other one at all. If you have I suppose you are very busy making carpets &c. How do you like yours.

We have had some of the most delightful weather that last fortnight that you can imagine, warm enough to sit with open windows some days. I did enjoy it, and improved four afternoons of it returning my calls, tedious work enough. I have not more than half finished. the afternoons are so short that we can't do much before dark.

I suppose that if Hannah⁹ has written you, you have a full account of E. B. Story's¹⁰ baby.¹¹ But I'll suppose that she has not (as it takes her some time to get a letter ready, and she is busy too), and give you the particulars. Sunday morning she was taken regularly baby sick (I don't know how that is, of course. I give it to you as Jane Rantoul¹² gave it to me), had the regular symptoms but was quite comfortable, so Mrs. W.¹³ and Isaac¹⁴ went to meeting leaving the nurse and Thorndike¹⁵ at home with her. At noon she was the same, and continued just so, not progressing at all. Monday afternoon some one called in. She was sitting up with her [__?__], talking with William Peabody.¹⁶ At tea time she grew sicker and as Isaac had to be in Lowell to argue a case early the next morning, he felt obliged to go away at 7 o'clock that night. He felt dreadfully. So did she, but he left it with her to decide whether he should go or not. If she said stay, why he would, but she thought it was his duty to go, so he started after a painful parting. When he got to the depot it drizzled, and it was dark, and the cars were so late, that all the courage that he had mustered forsook him, and the first thing that E. knew he was with her again. At 12 that night the Dr. was sent for, but judging from appearances he said the child would not be born till noon. There was another disappointment for Isaac, who must certainly go the first train in the morning. But things progressed slowly and an hour before Isaac had to start, he had a son and E. doing well. She has been quite comfortable ever since. Isaac felt so happy and pleased and everything else, that was obliged to sit down and have a good cry. So much for E's baby. I haven't heard of any name for it yet.

Ellen Walker¹⁷ has a boy¹⁸ too. She took the Ether, and sang all the time it was borning. It is getting to be quite common to take it. You had better send on for some before June.

Eliza Stickney¹⁹ is dead. I don't know any of the particulars, only that she had a child.

Pa²⁰ sent your things in the George Henry which sailed the 7th of the month. Perhaps you will have got them before you receive this. I have been embroidering a dress down in front with cord. made the pattern myself. They are to be very fashionable. Mine is a mulberry brown cashmere, about the shade of our drapes.

Several people where I have called asked me why you did not return their calls, Marianne Leach, and the Adams',²¹ and others. I excused you as well as I could.

Thanksgiving is close at hand. Shall you celebrate it. This week I am going to bake. Tis [_____] business for me to have the care of. You had better come on and dine with us. Isn't it singular that this is the third time that George³ has left about Thanksgiving time. Last year it was just a week before that he sailed, and the first time that he went to sea he sailed Thanksgiving day.

Elisha²² has gone. W. M.²³ is still at home. We see they have taken the front southern chamber, got a new carpet on it, and feel quite happy I suppose. Hannah²⁴ looks squatty. She will continue to look so till after February. Abba²⁵ and MeacomMeacom⁷ are as loving as two doves. He will spend the winter at home.

Old Mrs. Fosdick²⁶ has dislocated her hip. She went to open a door with some force, which she supposed latched. It came open suddenly, throwing her down and injuring her considerably. It is rather bad for a woman of her age.

Charles and George made a sheet tuck [?] like Ma's and I have been covering it. It is quite a convenience, you ought to have one. Ma was in and helped me stuff it.

Freddy²⁷ has been sick for a day or two, but is now better. He dines with me occasionally.

The Charitable Society will not begin to meet till the last of December. There is no one to go but Mrs. Weld²⁸ and Mrs. Thayer.²⁹ I wouldn't go while Charles is at home. The others are all sick. Mrs. Endicott³⁰ and Mary³¹ are still in bed, not able to make the least exertion. Hannah⁹ staid there till within a few weeks. She found that it was to be a winters job, so had to leave. John English's³² widow³³ keeps house for them, beside they have two Irish girls.³⁴

Write me soon won't you E., and as often as you can. Pa and Ma send their love to both of you, as also do Charles and I, with kisses for Thanny. Hoping that you are well as you would wish, I remain

Your affectionate sister,

Georgiana

 

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

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