Sallie Darlington to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 3 February 1870

[From Sallie Darlington in Faribault, Minnesota, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She talks about a letter she had received from Elizabeth's daughter Georgiana, inviting her to come to Milwaukee to visit, and asks about Col. Bell, a mutual friend of Sallie's and Georgiana's.]

St. Mary's Hall
Faribault, Feb 3rd/70

My dear Mrs. Bowditch,

It has been a very long time since I heard from you, and I believe you are my debtor. My conscience, however, has been smiting me for a long time because I have never replied to a very kind letter that I received from Georgiana.1 It was forwarded to me from West Chester, and reached me about two weeks after I came here. I was much obliged to her and to her friends in Milwaukee for the kind invitation she sent me, and I would have written to her at once if she had still been in Milwaukee. As it was, I did not know exactly where to address her, and after that, my duties in opening the school kept me so very busy for a few weeks that everything else was crowded out of my head. Be kind enough to thank her for me, and, through her, her friends in Milwaukee, if she corresponds with them, and say that I should be most happy to call and see them if I ever stop in that place. Col. Bell2 is a very old friend of mine; in fact I have known him ever since he was born. They resided next door but one to us, and our families were always on most intimate terms. Will you ask G'a1 whether Col. Bell has resigned from the Army; from the address she sent I should infer he was in business. I was very glad to find G'a had been having a pleasant visit among her northern friends, and I would have liked very much to see her. Do you not intend to come soon and make your sisters a visit? If you came in the summer, I should be strongly tempted to run over to Milwaukee and see you for a few hours.

My health is very good this winter; the change of climate which I made in going east for a year has been of great benefit to me, and now I feel the same good effects from the climate here that I experienced on first coming here seven years ago.

I shall send my letter to Burnsville, as I suppose you are still there, having heard nothing to the contrary.

Did G'a have her photograph taken while at the north? If so, has she not one to spare for me! I would like very much to see whether she makes as pretty a girl as she promised to be when I last saw her. Give her my love; also remember me to Mr. Bowditch3 and Nat,4 if they are with you. Hoping to hear from you very soon, I remain, with much love,

Yours truly,

S. P. Darlington

Our school is very full this year, and as the Bishop5 is in Europe recruiting his health, we teachers who have the charge of matters here feel great responsibility and are kept very busy.

  1. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth's daughter
  2. Joseph McClellan Bell (1836-1900). His wife Harriet McClure was a sister of Johnson McClure, husband of Elizabeth's sister Ellen.
  3. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth's husband
  4. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch (1846-1913), Elizabeth's son
  5. Henry Benjamin Whipple (1822-1901)