Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Hannah Rantoul to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 5 September 1849

[From Hannah Rantoul in Beverly, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She tells Elizabeth news about various family members and friends; mentions a visit from Anne Abbot, and talks about the death of Anne's sister Elizabeth; reminisces about past times together; and thanks her for sending pictures of her children. This letter was started on 5 September and finished on 7 September, and mentions the 4 August 1849 letter from Elizabeth to Hannah.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarborough, North Carolina," and postmarked "Sep 8, Beverly MS."]

Beverly, Sept. 5th, 1849

My dear sister E.,

I was so glad when I saw your long expected letter, and thought now I will write to her tomorrow, hoping there will never again be such a long cessation in our correspondence. I had always excused you, because I knew you had your baby¹ in your arms or Nat² by your side, dear little playthings, or some other good and sufficient reason for the time to slip away, and always resolved that I would write without waiting for you and reproached myself that I did not do so. But I have as you perhaps know, been away from home a great deal, and had some visitors this summer, and have neglected to write when I might have done so. But having had no evil thoughts of each other I will dismiss the subject by begging for another of your welcome letters soon, very soon dear Lizzie.

I called to see your Mother³ last week and told her I was expecting a visit from Mary Lyman⁴ and her little Johnny,⁵ and should not write you probably till after it, but she has not yet come and I am anxiously watching for a letter by every mail. I am very much afraid that she is sick. Mary seems very near and dear to me. I think dear sister, that as the number of our friends on earth grows less, our hearts cling the more closely to those that remain. My father⁶ seems dearer to me now than ever. I cannot bear to think that he is growing old, but I see and feel it every day. I know you can sympathize in my feelings towards him, and yet not fully, for he is my all.

I do not see E. Story⁷ often for we have both had something to prevent our going out much, when we were in town together, and she has been out of town a great deal. I called last week and she had gone to Lynnfield to remain till this week. I don't know whether she has returned or not. She comes here when I am out, and I do so there usually. The last time I found her at home she told me her plans for the winter. She intends to move to Boston in October, keep house, and take Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Story⁸ to board. I feel very sorry to have her go from Beverly again, for I know she is happier here, and although we do not see each other very often, we know that we can. She misses the care of her baby⁹ very much, but speaks cheerfully of it, and I think feels as all her friends did, that it could never have been a healthy child and she could not desire it to live to suffer.

Mary Louisa¹⁰ has been here all summer with her children, and Ellen¹¹ has been here for a little while on account of her father's¹² sickness. He is better, has been into his garden, and E. has gone home again. She cannot use her right hand at all & looks very feeble, is obliged to give up housekeeping again, on account of her health. Mary is well. They both spoke of you. The family have been all together while Mr. B. was sick, for the first time since the girls were married.

I had a very pleasant little visit from Anne Abbot¹³ this summer, and I went to commencement when W. Everett¹⁴ graduated. Elizabeth Abbot¹⁵ died since I wrote you. She was a lovely girl, "made perfect through suffering" as Anne said of her. I loved her very much. She was one of Charlotte's¹⁶ dearest friends. Anne very kindly brought me since her death all C's letters to E. I felt very grateful to her for thinking of it. They are precious to me, and it was not pleasant to think of their falling into other hands.

So much has occured since we exchanged letters and I have such a multitude of things to say, that I shall probably leave most of them unsaid, as I do when I meet a friend after a long separation, and have so much to speak of, that I am very silent. When you come next spring dearest, it will be to stay long enough for my first overpowering silent fit to wear off. I long to have you here once more. How many happy hours we have enjoyed together. I love to think of those days, of our long pleasant walks together, and our school friendship, which has grown and strengthened with years, and of what a blessing you have always been to me. It is a subject I am never tired of thinking of, and it will always be pleasant to us to look back upon it.

My brother R.¹⁷ has gone to the Falls of St. Croix again, but will be home as soon as possible. His son Robert¹⁸ has just entered the Freshman class at Cambridge college. Does it seem possible? He has been at home on his vacation and has had one of his classmates here, "Ward,"¹⁹ quite a pleasant youth.

I went to Concord, N. H., with Pa⁶ in August to Augustus Woodberry's²⁰ ordination. He seems young to have the care of a parish, but is very studious, does well now and is constantly improving.

Mary and Emily Howe²¹ I suppose you know are since their mother's²² death, in N. H. with their brother Lucius.²³ I had a letter from E. the other day begging me to write as she heard very little from Beverly. I felt sorry that they must go, but it was the best arrangement for them for this summer. Lucius was I suppose married last week. I don't know how that may change their plans.

You know too, no doubt, that Miss Frink²⁴ is with Mrs. Wigglesworth of Boston, who is blind, as a companion; of Martha Ann's²⁵ voyage and all the other pieces of general information. I suppose your Mother³ and sisters keep you informed.

Mr. & Mrs. Thorndike Rand²⁶ have been in town for several months, at Mrs. Steven's²⁷ and cousin Joa's.²⁸

I have not thanked you dear Lizzie for your remembrance of me which came by the box. It is very pretty and is in my drawer, where it reminds me of you whenever I go there, and I have not told you how much I was pleased with the children's daguerreotypes. Nat² has grown finely. I looked at him with pleasure, he looks so well, and the baby¹ too is a darling. I have taken several looks at them. I was glad to see Jo. Henry,²⁹ and was sorry not to see him again, when I should have found my conversational powers. It excited my feelings very much to meet him, because I should not help thinking of all the changes to you and to me since I met him last, and I thought it must have been an exciting visit to him.

I must leave off writing for the present dear E. Perhaps I may add a few more lines before I close it.

Fri 7th

I will add a few words dear E. to this hastily written letter before I mail it. I called at your house yesterday. Your Mother³ was at your grandmother's,³⁰ but I saw Martha³¹ and Ellen.³² M. said they had been expecting to hear from you and were afraid you were not well as you had not written. They were all well.

I called at E. Story's,⁷ but she had not returned from L. I have not heard from Mary Lyman⁴ yet, shall tomorrow, if not before, as Andrew³³ is coming to preach for us Sunday. Mary Howe²¹ is in town on a visit. She is at Mrs. Weld's.³⁴ I shall invite her to make part of here visit here.

Give my love to Jo. Henry and to the dear children. Jane³⁵ sends love, and Pa⁶ would like to if he were here. He has a great respect for you, and always feels interested in hearing from you. Do write to yrs. ever truly, H.

 

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

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