Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Hannah Rantoul to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 12 July 1848

[From Hannah Rantoul in Beverly, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She talks about caring for her mother and their relationship, and how difficult it is to part with one's parents when they die; congratulates Elizabeth on the birth of her daughter Georgiana; and tells her news about various family members and friends. This letter mentions the 17 May 1848 letter from Elizabeth to Hannah, talking about the deaths of Elizabeth's father and sister.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarborough, North Carolina," and postmarked "Jul 13, Beverly MS."]

Beverly, July 12th, 1848

My dear sister E.,

You will not I know think it strange that I have not found a suitable time to write to you for so long. I have time enough in the course of a day, but it is in odd minutes. I do not often have an uninterrupted hour together, and then it requires great resolution for me to sit down to write. I can be with Mother¹ and do all for her that is to be done, or attend to my various duties about the house, and find it much easier to retain my self-possession than it is in writing to you for whom I feel so deeply, and from whom I am sure of such true sympathy in my own trials.

I was very grateful to you for your kind letter, written when I knew it must be quite an exertion for you to write. It did me good to know from yourself that you were comforted and sustained in your afflictions.² We have both reason to be grateful that our parents were spared to us so long, but it is very hard to part from them now that we are old enough to feel the more deeply how great our loss will be. It is so sad to watch day by day the failing strength of body and mind in one dearly loved, and to know that there is no hope of recovery.

Mother and I have been to each other more than mother and daughter, if such a thing is possible, for the last few years particularly since we have been so much together and our family so small. I hardly dare look into the future and think if I outlive what I shall do without her. Sometimes the clouds seem so thick about me that I cannot see clearly through them, but it is not always so. It is a great comfort to me that mother is so free from pain, and a still greater that she is so calm and cheerful all the time, and then that I am able to take care of her. She likes better to have me with her than any one else, and it is a pleasure to take care of her, she is so gentle and patient. She suffers from debility, chills and fever, cough and short breathing, but has no severe pain.

I had written so far dear Lizzie when Mother rang for me. She is in bed this afternoon and has been asleep most of the time, the reason that I have been more at leisure than usual. I have been sitting with her some time, and she thinks now that she shall go to sleep again. I will write while I can, but it may not be long. Mother does not often go to bed so early, but today has been very warm and debilitating. I have dreaded the coming of the hot days for her. The weather has been very cool most of the summer. I suppose now we must expect warmer days.

Mrs. Torrey³ has just sent in some splendid flowers. Mother loves flowers dearly, and her friends have been very kind in keeping her surrounded with them.

I have not told you dearest, what you already know, how glad I felt to hear that you had another darling, a daughter⁴ too. I had hoped it might be so, for I knew how gratifying it would be to you all. I can wish nothing better for her than that she may be like dear Georgiana.⁵ Your Mother⁶ very kindly sent Martha⁷ down to tell me the good news as soon as she heard from you. I was very glad to know that you were so well.

Do you know how very like Georgiana Martha is? Mr. Lafavour⁸ told me he could not learn to call her by any other name for some time in school. I was not surprised at it, as he did not see much of Ga. after he knew her in school, and Martha is about the same age that she was then. It does not seem possible. Mr. L. says Martha is a very good girl, seems to think very highly of her.

You know I suppose what E. Story's⁹ situation is. I do not see her so often as I would like to. She is very much occupied at home, and has had company there lately, Mrs. Curtis¹⁰ & Mary¹¹ & now one of Mr. Story's¹² sisters. Mrs. Woodberry¹³ is in Vermont on a visit of several weeks.

I have seen your Mother but once since I came from Westborough. I called there the evening that your letter came. I told her then that I should try to write you soon, and did not think it would be so long first [____] but you will excuse it.

I feel very differently about Mother now dear sister from what I did when I wrote you from Westborough. I thought then as she had gained a little she might rally till the cold weather came again. I do not think so now, and am dreading the effect of July and August weather.

A week since Pa¹⁴ was quite sick for a few days, my heart sank within me, but he is quite well again now. I have always had a fear of being left alone in the world, though I never have had any expectation of living to be old myself.

Jane¹⁵ has just been in. She sends love to you, and told me to tell you that she called to see your Mother a few evenings since, and thought she looked and felt better than she had for some time. She had heard from you. I suppose you know from home that Charles¹⁶ has gone to sea.

I feel reproached dear sister to send you such a miserable letter in answer to your very acceptable one, though I do not doubt that mine will be acceptable to you, be it good or bad. Do try to write me again soon. Your letters are great comforts to me. I do not expect you to find so much time to write now that you have a larger family to care for, but if you are obliged to shorten your letters, do write as often as you can. I will write you when I feel as if I can, but if I do not very soon, feel assured that I love and think of you, and am always glad to hear from you. Mother sends love to you. Give mine to Joe Henry.¹⁷ Kiss the children for me and think of me ever as your loving sister H.

 

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

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