Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 22 December 1884

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She says she's sending her a package, originally intended for Christmas, and includes pictures of her sons; describes her Thanksgiving; talks about the deaths of Ellen Lovett and Hannah Rand; describes a trip to Canada; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville Dec 22, ‘84

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

I got your letter last Tuesday, on my return from Boston and was very much delighted to see & read it. I had been thinking of you and wondering why you did not write.

I put up a little bundle for you last week and hoped you would get it for Christmas, but we had a very bad cold spell come on just then and I could not contrive to get it to the office, so now you must have it for New Years. We put letters in a box near us, but packages have to be carried to the Post Office, at some distance. It is not of much value, but I picked up such as I had & thought you would like them. Not to show my love for their is no need of that, I hope, but just as a little reminder of the Season. The handkerchief is for Georgianna¹ with my love and many wishes for a happy New Year.

The boys pictures are not new ones. I. M.² has not had his taken since he graduated and the other two have had them taken within three or four years, but I have but one copy & could not spare them. Fred's³ is pretty good of him now, but Will⁴ has altered and this was taken in 1871 when he left college. He is better looking now, more intellectual looking. I am sorry to show this picture for him, but as I could not do better I thought I would send this. Both he and his wife⁵ seem dreadfully afraid of having their pictures taken. I believe they must think they don't do them justice. I think they look like them but they say they don't. Even their brothers have not got a copy. So now you have the whole story.

No, I did not go to Mothers⁶ to Thanksgiving, never do. She always dines with Mrs. Burley.⁷ We are always at home. This year we had Isaac M.,² his wife,⁸ her aunt, who is visiting her, and the two children.⁹ So we had a good time, but I get pretty tired with the noise & play of the children all day. They live very near and I can go in there & they come in here for an hour or two, but all day tires me. So you see I am not as strong as I used to be.

When I got so far I found I had made a mistake and was writing on two sheets, so I will go on & see if I can fill them. I am always glad to get your nice long letters and I suppose you must be equally glad to get a long one from me, but I write closer than you do and I think I get more on a sheet.

I was glad to hear you had been to Burnsville, it troubles me sometimes when I think of you being so confined at home, but your letters are always cheery and bright and that comforts me for I feel that you must be happy in doing your duty in that state of life, in which it has pleased God to place you.

(Now go to the first page of this sheet.)

He knows what is best for us, and doubtless has done the very best for both you and your family. You see your boys are all good boys and doing well in the places they are in. Who knows how it might have been, had they been exposed to the trials and temptations of the busy world. It makes one tremble to read in the papers of Men well brought up, perhaps with pious parents, who yield to temptation, are led on from bad to worse, and come at last to the States Prison. We who have sons honest and true cannot be too thankful that God has kept them so far, or too prayerful that He will continue His watch & guard over them, until they reach a better home, even an Heavenly.

Have you heard of Ellen Lovets¹⁰ death? I suppose you have. I dare say if any one has written you, you know more than I do about it. I know nothing only I saw Ann Abbot¹¹ in the depot in Boston, waiting for a car, and she said she was going down to the funeral. There was not time for me to hear more as her car came immediately. She looked just as she used to. I think if you should see her, you would say she had changed less than any of the rest of us.

Hannah Rand¹² too is dead, had Pneumonia, was only sick two days. I saw her in Boston only about ten days before, and she said she was going to sell her horse before cold weather but before she sold it, she would come out and see me. She never came. Her son¹³ is New York. She said he was doing splendedly (I suppose she meant making money) but he is on the Broker's board in New York city, and I should think it was a dangerous place for one of my boys. I would rather they would be on a farm.

I was very much disappointed when I heard Ellen¹⁴ was on and I did not see her. The more so, that she was so near as Cambridge, and I could have gone over had I known she was there. My oldest boy was there. The colleges are only a mile from my house. Our boys used to board at home when they were going through college.

Mother⁶ is much better than she was last summer. She came up in October and made me a visit. I hope to spend New Years with her, if the weather permits. I am much better than I was last summer.

Oh I have not told you about my journey. Mr. Story¹⁵ and myself and Miss Chase (a friend who lives with me - you know I cannot dress & undress myself) all started off last August for Quebec, stopping two or three times on the way. From there we took a steamboat & saild up the Saugancy river, on the boat two days. Enjoyed it very much, the grandest mountain scenery I ever saw. Some of the rocks on the edge of the river run up a thousand feet, straight up into the air. On our return, we stopped at Quebec & Montreal and some other places in Canada. Was gone nearly four weeks. I have been better ever since.

Lovingly, Lizzie

Give my love to all of your family. I wish them all a Happy New Year, in which the Judge joins.

E

 

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

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