Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 21 February 1881

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She describes the death of her brother Thorndike, a trip she made to see his family after the funeral, and how hard it was on her health; talks about her son Isaac and his new wife; asks again about Elizabeth's farm and what they raise; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville Feb 21, 1881

My Dear Sister,

I have been wondering why I did not get a letter from you in answer to one which I thought I sent you early in Nov., but I have almost made up my mind I did not write to you then. I had a number of letters to write then, telling of Isaac¹ wedding. My girl was very sick for three weeks after the wedding and I had to have another. A strange girl is a real trouble to one like me that can see so little about the real work of the kitchen, hardly know in fact where the things are. Then I took cold and have not been well since. Altogether I intended to write you & then thought I had written. I am not sure now. If I did not, please excuse my long silence.

Did you know that my brother Thorndike² was dead? He died very suddenly the last day of Nov. I did not know he was sick until I got a telegram saying he was dying & an hour after one saying he was dead. It was a very great shock to me. A severe snowstorm prevented my going to the funeral but the next week I went to New York to see his wife³ & daughter.⁴ I was there but three or four days & then returned.

It was quite too much for me. The shock & the journey so overcame me that I had no strength. I just went to bed & lay there without any desire to see or hear anything. I did not care to get up again but was persuaded to after some days. I have not been out since and do not expect to before mild weather. I do not think I have had such poor health for so long a time since I was married. I am better now but very far from being well. One or two callers in an afternoon will put me in poor condition for all the next day.

Thorndike's death was caused by Paralisis of the brain. He also had Bright's disease of the kidney, but had not known it but a few weeks. He seemed as well as usual when he rose in the morning and dressed & bathed as usual. The first thing his wife saw out of the way was, he took his comb & comed down his coat sleeve. She screamed to her daughter to go for the doctor. He put out his hand & said no, no. Those were his last words. He lived two hours & a half unconscious and apparantly without suffering & died quietly as a child goes to sleep. He had never been a day home from business & no one thought he was really sick. He said the day before that he never felt any pain, but was tired & weak. His wife lost her father, Judge Porter,⁵ about three weeks ago. She feels her loss very much. She & my brother were devoted to each other. I thought perhaps you would hear of my loss & my ill health this winter from Hannah Rantoul⁶ & would write me.

Aunt Mary Curtis⁷ died in October. I went to her funeral and saw her laid by the side of Mary⁸ the day before Isaac was married.

My son¹ and his wife⁹ seem very happy. They have been boarding so far, but are just now going to housekeeping in Philadelphia. We sent on some of their things only last Saturday. Their silver has been here all the time and some other things we have given them from the house to help them begin with. They are richer in silver (wedding presents) than we are, having about $200 worth, but in every thing else they begin small & have got to build up. They are both economical and prudent & I know will not go into debt, so if he has his health I feel sure they will get along well.

Willie¹⁰ is keeping house in Baltimore and with a salary of $2,500 will find it just as hard to get along as Isaac with less than 1,000. Not that I can say Willie is extravagant (only in books) but he likes things nice round him & his position I suppose requires more.

I write you this letter in time I hope for you to get it by your birth day - 60! Well time moves on & we get older every day. May we also grow wiser & better as the old writing copy says.

I wish when you write you would tell me what you raise on your farm and if you get it to a market? I have often wished I knew what kind of a farm you had, what you raised on it. I hope you are comfortable this cold winter. The spring will soon be with you when you can finish the house. My hand has been lamer this winter.

Rebecca Frances¹¹ sends her love to you. Her Mother¹² still lives in Beverly with her other two daughters.¹³

Give my love to all you have at home. You speak of being lonely this winter. Mine are all gone. The nest is empty quite & the old birds sit on the bough & gaze sadly at the empty nest. Is your married son¹⁴ near enough for you to see them often. I am very glad for you that he is married so happily and hope they may be a great comfort to you.

I wrote a little sonnet at Christmas & I thought perhaps you would like to see it, so send you a copy. A kiss for your birth day from

Your loving sister Lizzie

 

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

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