Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 24 July 1849

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Beverly, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She apologizes for not writing sooner; tells Elizabeth about the death of her infant son Thorndike Marion Story; says Frederick (Elizabeth's brother) had been very sick, but was recovering quickly; and mentions news of various friends. This letter was written 24 July, with a postscript added the next day.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarborough, N. Carolina," and postmarked "Beverly, MS, 26 Jul."]

Beverly July 24 1849

I owe you more than thanks [____] dear sister E. for your kind letter received yester[____], and as I think you had rather be paid by a letter than any thing else I commence this as soon as possible.

Oh dearest your letter seemed just like you. It was almost like seeing you and hearing you talk. How long it seems since I did indeed see you or hear you talk and how long too since we have given each other the pleasure of even a letter so easily written, so easily sent, when once you get about it. I have not a word to offer in excuse. There were reason recurring day by day, which I suppose prevented me, trifling in themselves and long since forgotten; but none I am sure that ought to have been allowed to delay a letter to so dear a friend for so long a time. I can therefore but beg that you will overlook it and forget it for this time. And it speaks well for the confidence our long intimacy has given me that though I have thought you might wonder why I did not write, I have never thought our friendship in danger from this neglect. I have thought of you daily and nightly and with the same interest and freshness of feeling as in years gone bye when not a sun went down that had not seen us together.

And dearest Lizzy in this my last great trouble I thought of you so much. I had looked forward to the time when you would come North with your children, when you would know my little boy¹ and love him for his mothers sake. Now it is all over. You will never in this world see his dear little face. He was ever a delicate child requiring my constant care and Dr. Boyden² has never since he was three months old given us any [____] that he would live to grow up. But hope lives on [____] little and as week after week he was still with us we felt more encouraged and almost thought after all that he might become healthy and strong as other children.

He was always weak. Even before birth his motion was very slight compared to what I felt with my other child. He was born ten or fifteen minutes before the Dr. came, and in that time he did not cry, but made once or twice a very faint little noise. He weighed 9 1/2 lbs, a fine fat looking baby, but could not hold his eyelids up for a fortnight or more. He lost flesh very fast and continued all his life very thin. His face was round, which made it look better in flesh than any other part. His limbs were very long like Isaac's³ and very thin, hardly any flesh upon them.

At the time of his death he was 8 months & 18 days old, measured 28 inches, and weighed 12 1/4 pounds. He had weighed three weeks before 12 1/2, but the last time he was weighed about a week previous to his death he only weighed 12 1/4. He would gain a little, a very little, then we felt encouraged and would think he was getting along finely. Then without any apparent cause, he would have a sick spell of two or three days, sometimes longer, and lose more than he had gained. So it was with us through his life, one day hoping the next despairing.

The end of it all is that we have two little angels in Heaven but our earthly home is desolate. Oh you cannot tell how much such a little child, when it is the only one, can be missed. But I know that he is well now and happy - a happiness that can never be taken from him. While here our purest love could not save him from pain & suffering, in years to come it might be sin & misery. Now he is safe from all within his Saviour's arms, and in his safety and happiness I try to forget our loss, but it is a very great disappointment to us. [____] had counted so much on the future, even though he seem[____] frail.

I was in Lee, N. H., when he died. We had [____] there about three weeks for his health and partly for my own. He was taken worse on Thursday morning but I did not feel alarmed about him until between three and four in the afternoon, when he seized with acute pain. He would draw up his little hands and feet, and send them out again, and scream as if in agony. This would last perhaps three or four minutes and then he would lay perhaps two minutes easy and as it were asleep, then the pain would return again. The interval of rest was scarce ever so long as the pain. It seemed entirely in his bowels. His head did not seem affected in the least. He was conscious of his pain and would look up to me after it was over as if he knew me. He suffered thus until about half past eleven when he seemed pretty easy, occasionally awaking with a short cry. About half past one his breathing suddenly altered and from that time until his death, which took place about 5 in the morning, he was struggling for breath. It was dreadful to see him. He had a very hard death and I really felt relieved when it was all over and he was at peace.

The day he died was the hottest day we have had this year, but we brought him home and laid him by the side of his little brother. He looked very natural and pretty even after we got home. Oh Lizzy it is very hard, how hard may you never know, to lay those in the cold ground for whom we have ever sought the warmest and softest spot.

Isaac³ was not with me, but I sent to Boston and he reached Lee at 6 the same night. We started the next morning before 3 and rode 17 miles in a carriage to Portsmouth and then took the cars for Beverly.

My little boy was named Thorndike Marion Story. He had dark brown hair at first but it grew lighter as he grew older. It was very curly. His eyes were dark blue and very bright & pretty, the prettiest part of his face. I need not ask you to excuse [____] dwelling so long on my lost treasure. Your heart I know [____] for me, as mine has felt for you since we par[____].

Frederick⁴ was very sick on Sunday but he is now much better. Your mother⁵ felt very anxious, indeed she despaired of his life, but he is recovering fast now. Before I close this letter I shall go in and see how he is. He has had a bowel disiese partly disantory partly inflamation. Mr. Curry⁶ has had the Cholera but is now recovering. I have not seen Hannah⁷ since I came home, but she was here yesterday while I was out. I have been to Lynnfield nearly three weeks and returned last Thursday.

I have much more I wish to write but will wait until my next letter. Isaac³ is still in Lynnfield where he has some business and so I send his love on my own responsibility, but I know he would if he were here. Good bye my dearest sister. May God bless and keep you and yours. Love to Mr. Bowditch⁸ and the children.

Elizabeth

25th) I have just been to your Mothers. Frederick is very much better, almost well. The rest are quite well & send love. Mother⁹ and Thorndike¹⁰ send love also.

Do write again soon, very soon.

 

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

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