Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

James Gould to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 22 November 1868

[From James Gould in Forest Hills, Massachusetts (part of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood in Boston), to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. He mentions that he had traveled west, had visited Elizabeth's sister Martha's family in Milwaukee, and had seen her brother John there also; notes that he had been at Ellen's wedding, and that a letter from Martha tells him Ellen was back from her honeymoon; talks about Hannah Lytle and Mary Talbott; and describes how he passes his time.]

Forest Hill
Jamica Plain
Nov 22 1868

Dear Lizzie,

On my return from the west I received your letter of Oct 10 and have deffered a reply until I could hear again from Milwaukee. John¹ will have told you all about matters & things here, so I need not particularize. Was very glad indeed to learn that he was going to you, and knew that it must be welcome to you and pleasant to him. He was suffering from illness when at Marthas.² Hope that he has recovered quite and that you are all enjoying yourselves.

About my letters not reaching you or Georgiana,³ tis very funny that curiosity should reap so poor a reward as to read my letters surepticiously. They must have thot any correspondent of hers would be inspired by her, as I cannot write one that I think worth reading except by friendly eyes.

Had a letter yesterday from Martha. They were all well. Ellen⁴ had just returned from her bridal tour, an in improved health. I felt anxious about her as she was worn down with the travel of the journey from the east and with preparations for the wedding. It was truly gratifying to me to be present on the occasion, and everybody seemed pleased. And it was so pleasant to see Martha² in her own home, and the Doctor her husband⁵ also. It seems to bring them nearer to me. Tho' I loved them before, I can now fancy them as they are and look back in memory to that happy time as I then saw them. I think highly of McClure⁶ from these first impressions and believe he will make Ellen very happy, and no one more deserves it.

I notice what you say of the "Old Home" but change is written up everything and new hopes, new joys, and new friends must supplant naturally many old & fine ones. Many many fond recollections gather round the old mansion, but to us now 'tis a thing of the past and we must accept the fact.

I would have been very glad to have seen Mr. Bowditch⁷ while he was north and talked over little circle of acquaintances, and what hope of the future. Shall expect him to find me out when he comes so far North as Boston.

You speak of Hannah Lytle.⁸ She is one of the best of women. She and Mary Talbot⁹ live together. Mary owns the house & keeps school, and making money. I was with them by invitation for ten days after selling my house. They were very kind and made my time very pleasant. They live in very pretty style but plain, and have a very extensive circle of friends and acquaintance. Both H & M are very intelligent & very agreeable.

You ask how I pass my time. Well on the whole, very agreeably, in reading, walking, or riding and some music on the melodian, tho Eliza Weld¹⁰ plays well on the Piano, but she is now in St. Paul. I go into Boston almost every day in the Steamcars in ten minutes and often play backgamon with Mr. Weld,¹¹ or whist with the family and am at no loss for variety. And the three families living so near some of them in every day.

I see Frederick¹² very often and visit his wife¹³ and little Cora¹⁴ also. Mrs. Fred is very agreeable, and Cora is a sweet child. They are coming out soon to see us, and we hope to be sociable.

May we not expect Georgiana³ in the spring. Let her come on with John. It will be a treat to all of us.

With love to all of you. Believe me as ever, your affect.

James Gould

 

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

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