Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 16 July 1884

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She talks about how busy she is; says her cousin Lucy has died; talks about her sons, and her son Isaac's family; asks if there's anything they own that "can be convertable to money"; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville July 16, ‘84

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

It is some time since I got your last letter but I have had since then many things to take up my time and thoughts. Being from home all winter, I found many things awaiting attention in my own house and many calls and visits to make. Three of my friends had lost their husbands and two near neighbors had new little babies and you know we are told to rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that mourn. Situated as you are I suppose you have but few neighbourly duties, but it is not so with me. I do not make many merely social calls but reserve my strength for going to those who have a particular need of my sympathy or service.

Do you remember Wilson Flagg.1 He died just after my return from Baltimore & I have been over to set an hour or two with his wife.2 Shall go again before long. They live in Cambridge not far and the horse cars take me near enough to be within walking distance. You know nothing of horse cars I suppose and what a great convenience they are. With my lameness I could go about but very little but for them.

Have you heard that Frances3 has lost her sister Lucy?4 She has been sick with Brights disiese of the kidneys nearly two years. The Drs say much longer, but it was not known until about two years ago. She died quite suddenly at last. They5 will miss her much. Half their family gone in little more than two years, Mother6 & sister. Frances seems to be doing well. I really hope she will entirely recover.

While I was writing the last page Isaac7 wife8 & her two children came in. The baby9 is now eleven months old and can walk if you lend it a hand. A dear little boy. It is a great pleasure for me to have them come in now & then. The older one Frankie (Isaac Franklin)10 can come now by himself, so we see him often. I hope by this time you have made acquaintance with your little grandchild.11 What is its name?

Both my boys12 from Baltimore have been home this summer and Fred is here now. I wish you might see my boys some time. Perhaps you do not need to be told that I am proud of them all. No doubt you know as well as I, that her children are a Mother's greatest joy & honor. If we have brought them up to be good & useful men we have well filled our lot in the world. Their success is all the praise or glory we ask. Is it not so?

I carried your last letter down to Beverly & read it to Mother13 & Mr. & Mrs. Burley.14 They were much pleased with it and all sent love to you. Mr. B. said he should like to hear you laugh once more. We talked about you some time. It was the 4 of July. Did your ears burn. I suppose you don't celebrate much even on the 4th so far away from other people.

I heard that Ellen15 had been on to Paul Thorndike16 graduation. I should so much have enjoyed seeing her, but did not know of it until too late. Some of my family were at commencement, but I was not.

Mother13 is not very well, has a gastric trouble which causes her food to hurt her. I feel quite anxious about her sometimes. She is not as careful about her eating as she ought to be. At her age it is not safe to be careless in any respect.

I have been rather weak this summer but I think it is only a little debility caused by the heat. It is cool now & I already feel better.

Give my love to Ga.17 I should enjoy seeing her so much & sometime I hope yet that I may welcome her in my own home.

Is there nothing on your place that can be convertable to money? With so much land it seems as though something ought to be made.

Do write very soon to

Your loving Sister Lizzie

  1. Thomas Wilson Flagg (1805-1884)
  2. Caroline Baggs Eveleth (1824-)
  3. Rebecca Frances Ford Woodberry (1826-1887), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's cousin
  4. Lucy Glover Woodberry (1841-1884), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's cousin
  5. Rebecca Frances Ford Woodberry and her sister Sarah Lawrence Woodberry (1833-1915)
  6. Lucy Glover (1800-1882), wife of Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's uncle Joel Woodberry
  7. Isaac Marion Story (1855-1918), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's son
  8. Adeline Sanderson (1848-1900)
  9. Joseph Marion Story (1883-1934), Isaac Marion Story's son
  10. Isaac Franklin Story (1881-1948), Isaac Marion Story's son
  11. Bertha Bowditch (1883-1958), daughter of Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's son Joseph Bowditch
  12. William Edward Story (1850-1930) and Frederick Washington Story (1852-1920), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's sons
  13. Nancy Howe Lincoln (1800-1886), actually Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's step-mother
  14. Edward Burley (1802-1891) and Harriett Lincoln (1810-1891), sister of Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's step-mother Nancy Howe (Lincoln) Woodberry
  15. Ellen Louisa Abbot (1837-1887), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's sister
  16. Paul Thorndike (1863-1939), son of Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's sister Martha (Abbot) Thorndike. He graduated from Harvard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1884.
  17. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's daughter