Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 28 February 1882

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She talks about Elizabeth's birthday, how old they are, and how she thinks of her as still young; says she went to Beverly for her mother's birthday where there was quite a party; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville Feb 28, ‘82

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

The months and years fly round and have brought again your birthday, but they make no difference in my thought of you. You may be going on towards seventy as I am, but to me you are only about twenty five, a laughter loving lively girl. I see you as you were years ago when we were both young. I see myself as I am, and old lady, well preserved it may be, but still, in spite of all that can be said to the contrary, a lady of sixty four years! In six years, if I live so long, seventy!! Think of that. In my thoughts you are young. In your letters you are young and when I am thinking of you, I am young too, only three years older than you. If we should ever meet again how shall we look in each others eyes? The reality must be so different from the ideal. Perhaps we may never see each other until we meet in the spirit land. Will not the life long love that has outlived absence and years be felt by us even there. I trust so.

I have been hoping to get a letter from you before today, but as it has not come I write as usual. I answered your last letter and a few weeks since I sent you a poetical piece by Mr. Story,1 which I took the pains to copy for you. I thought if you did not care much for it Georgianna2 would. I hope it has come safely as it would be some work for me to write it over.

Last Wednesday was Mother's3 birthday and I went down to Beverly accompanied by my youngest son Isaac,4 his wife5 & child.6 I used to go every year, she always received on that day, but have not been for five years before this, have not been well enough to leave home in so cold & inclement a part of the year. But this year I am better than I have been for a long time and the season is uncommonly mild. Mother had quite a party, 17 or 18 to dinner & more calling through the day. She was 82, the same as the year. It seemed to me she did not look any older than she did five or six years ago, though she has had considerable to pull her down the last year or two.

My brother's7 widow8 was there and in a week or two will come up & make me a little visit. She resides in New York. Her daughter9 is now making a visit in Philadelphia.

By the way I have forgotten to tell you in my letters before that Downing Trask has been dead many years and his brother married his widow. You asked about him in one of your letters and I would never think of it until I had written.

Did you know that Matha Endicot (Giddings)10 is dead. The house looked so mournful when I was down, all shut up, no one living there. Mother lives about opposite in the house where Hannah Leech's11 Aunt Wallace12 used to live, between Asa Woodberrys13 & Mr. Picketts14 house. Mrs. John Pickett15 is dead. Did you know her?

I looked at your old house as I passed. It looked well, in good condition. Mrs. Norwood16 (her husband17 is dead) lives in our house18 & her son19 in yours.20 Our friends in Beverly are well as usual. The old ones are growing older and I feel every time I go how uncertain is life.

Your loving sister Lizzie

I hope you will answer this as soon as you can. I really feel by this time that you owe me a letter and I am a little impatient to hear what you think of the poetry. Give my love to Ga.2 and remember me to Mr. B.21 So Guiteau22 seems likely to be hung. I hope you will excuse the writing of this. Poor hands & a poor pen. You never seem to have a poor pen.

  1. Isaac Story (1818-1901), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's husband
  2. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's daughter
  3. Nancy Howe Lincoln (1800-1886), actually Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's step-mother
  4. Isaac Marion Story (1855-1918), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's son
  5. Adeline Sanderson (1848-1900)
  6. Isaac Franklin Story (1881-1948), Isaac Marion Story's son
  7. Jacob Thorndike Woodberry (1814-1880), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's brother
  8. Julia Morris Porter (1838-1915), Jacob Thorndike Woodberry's widow
  9. Julia Lincoln Woodberry (1865-aft 1919), Jacob Thorndike Woodberry's daughter
  10. Martha Thorndike Leach (1803-1881)
  11. Hannah Elliot Little (1798-1890)
  12. Either Abigail Wallis (1786-1854) or Lucy Wallis (1782-1854)
  13. Asa Woodberry (1777-1848)
  14. Thomas Pickett (1805-1878)
  15. Susannah Clark (1812-1882)
  16. Louisa Odell (1819-1903)
  17. Seth Norwood (1815-1875)
  18. The Woodberry's house was at 104 Cabot St. in Beverly, and is now the location of a laundromat. See Residence of Mrs. Seth Norwood - Beverly.
  19. Francis A. Norwood (1841-aft 1913)
  20. The Abbot's house was at 75 Cabot St. in Beverly, and is now the location of a condominium complex.
  21. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's husband
  22. Charles Julius Guiteau (1841-1882). He was the assassin of Pres. James A. Garfield, who was shot 2 July 1881 and died 19 September 1881. See Charles J. Guiteau.