Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 28 February 1884

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Baltimore, Maryland, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She talks about growing older; says she's enjoying being in Baltimore with her son's family and would like to stay through March, but may go home earlier; feels for Elizabeth living so far from society; and says her cousin Frances's health is improving.]

256 Calvert Street
Baltimore Feb 28, ‘84

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

This is your birthday and I cannot let it go by without a little chat with you, although it is not very long since I wrote last. How the years go by and each one makes us older. I begin sometimes to think I am really an old woman. When I see peoples death in the papers of my age I think they are old, but then I think of Mother1 and she is so much older that it seems as though I was not very old after all. Last Friday was her birthday and she was 84. And quite smart too, goes out when younger ladies think it too cold for them. I sometimes fear she will overdo and take cold & have Pneumonia which might go hard with her.

I often think how nice it is for you to have a daughter.2 I am resigned that I have not, but I think you need one much more than I do, as otherwise you would be much more lonesome. I have other society and then I have my son's3 wife4 & family near me all the time when I am at home.

I have been here now about two months and a half. My husband5 begins to talk about my coming home, but I should like to stay through March. March is a hard month with us, but I shall go whenever he says so. It does seem a good while to be away from home, but it may be a long time before I come again. It is very pleasant being here with my son6 and his wife7 and little baby.8 It is a dear little boy, not very little either, weighs 17 3/4 lbs, measures 28 1/2 inches in height and is 5 months old. Don't you call him a very tall child? He is just as good as he can be.

I was glad to hear that Ga.2 had friends in Burnsville. I had thought she had none so near. To one who can ride horseback that is not so very far. Do you never ride horseback and can you not go over in some kind of a waggon? I suppose her friends sometimes come over to return her visits and that must be pleasant for you.

When I think what you used to be, so fond of society and so much made of in society I get rather dissatisfied with thinking of you, shut out of the world as you are. But then I know it is all right as that is the lot chosen for you by one who is wiser than I. I can see some of the compensations you have in your family and I dare say there are other things I do not see. One thing I know, that if you trust and love Him, He will give you all you really need to make you contented and happy even in this world, and a hope of eternal life beyond, that can enlighten the darkest places we pass through here.

I had a letter from Frances9 a few days since. She thinks on the whole she is improving in health, feels quite well she says; of course the tumor has not yet gone but grows less and softer and they have hopes of its entire disappearance in time. It must be some time yet. They10 find it rather hard to get along, neither of them strong and but little means, but they are better off than a good many and I trust will be carried safely through.

I hope dear Lizzie that you will write to me quite soon, as you know this is my second letter.

I have not heard from Hannah.11 We do not corrispond regularly. Once in a while we write when there is any particular thing to write about.

Give my love to Ga., also to the rest of your family. I think of them often although I know so little of them. How does the grandchild12 get along? I am so full of my own babies, perhaps you think I don't think about yours, but it is not so. I sometimes wonder if it looks like the Abbots who were so pretty you know. My own family had no beauty to boast of, but the babies are pretty for all that.

Good bye, lovingly,

Your sister Lizzie

  1. Nancy Howe Lincoln (1800-1886), actually Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's step-mother
  2. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's daughter
  3. Isaac Marion Story (1855-1918), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's son
  4. Adeline Sanderson (1848-1900)
  5. Isaac Story (1818-1901), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's husband
  6. William Edward Story (1850-1930), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's son
  7. Mary Deborah Harrison (1853-1942)
  8. William Edward Story (1883-1969), William Edward Story's son
  9. Rebecca Frances Ford Woodberry (1826-1887), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's cousin
  10. Rebecca Frances Ford Woodberry and her sister Lucy Glover Woodberry (1841-1884)
  11. Hannah Lovett Rantoul (1821-1898)
  12. Bertha Bowditch (1883-1958), daughter of Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's son Joseph Bowditch