Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 28 February 1885

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She says she's had a bad cold but is better; talks about her visit to Beverly and her (step-)mother's birthday party; describes changes in their old neighborhood, and asks if she'll ever come visit Beverly again; asks Elizabeth to have her picture taken and send her one; talks about her son Frederick's upcoming wedding; says her health is better; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville Feb 28, 1885

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

Once more I celebrate your birthday by writing you a letter. I am sorry the only one I have to answer is one I have answered before. I have been hoping I should get another from you before the time came.

Has Georgiana¹ got the scraps of silk yet? I fear she will not think much of them, but at that time it was very cold and I can't hunt round and find things in the cold. I think of cutting up some dresses this spring or early summer and then I can pick up some more pecies for her.

I have had a very bad cold but am about over it now. Went down to Beverly to Mothers² birthday last Saturday & came home on Thursday. Her birthday was 22d but as that was on Sunday she kept it on Monday. She is 85 and looks to me no older than she did five years ago. We had a very pleasant time, had 12 at the table for dinner. Some of them came from a distance & so went home in the afternoon, but their places were taken by others so that their was 12 at tea also. She had a number of callers on Sunday & on Monday. She received 27 presents and $25 in money. She always has a good many presents and seems to enjoy the day very much.

I wish I could drop in and call upon you today, although I won't say I should be ready to go after even a very long call. I think one day would hardly be enough for us to get through even a small part of what we would have to say.

While in Beverly I saw H. Rantoul,³ Charlotte Huzzey (Whiteridge),⁴ Mrs. Jones (Nancy Groves),⁵ Emily Lovett (Howe)⁶ & Betsey Brown.⁷ I talked about you with them all & told them today was your birthday & I should write to you. They all seemed pleased to hear of you and wanted me to give you their love.

The main street between your old house and Washington Street is very much improved. The houses from Broad Avenue have all been taken down & two blocks put up, of stones, which are set back so as to make the street wider. Also the sidewalk is widened from Dr. Torrys⁸ house down past S. P. Lovetts⁹ house, and all those large trees are cut down all the way along. It seemed a pity but it certainly has improved the street making it so much wider, and they have left the trees on the other side. Mrs. Giddings¹⁰ sidewalk goes close up to the step. The fence & little yard is all taken away. It is even more changed up by the town house, trees cut down, houses taken away and stores built. Mr. Eben Smiths¹¹ house seemed to be the only thing that looked natural. Mr. Albert Thorndike's¹² house has been moved away and a Bank I believe is being built there. As I do not walk much I cannot tell you all the changes, but you would hardly recognize the old place. Every time I go down I find some change. At the Farms and Seaside there are some charming places which I wish you could see. You would hardly believe it could be Beverly.

Will you never come again? It is a question I am often asked. You are not forgotten. The place is very much changed. The old people are dead, the young have grown old. There would be much to regret, if you came, but the few old places would look natural and the old faces would hide young hearts, & their voices & eyes, would, notwithstanding the wrinkles, carry you back to the days of your youth. This is the effect it has on me; but then I see the changes, many of them as they are made, and I am one of those who are growing old. It is so long, so very long since you were in Beverly, that I am not sure that a visit there would give you almost as much pain as pleasure.

In my last letter I spoke of the Flaggs I think. Isaac¹³ the oldest son is Professor of Greek at Cornell Collage. He lost his wife¹⁴ a few weeks ago and brought her here to be buried. On his return, he took back his Mother¹⁵ to live with him. He has four children,¹⁶ the oldest girl about 15. I suppose Mrs. Flagg¹⁵ will spend the rest of her days there & it will I think be a very pleasant home for her, where she can live comfortably and at ease. She & Wilson¹⁷ were always straitened in means & she never had any faculty for getting along, although she is a lady of fine tastes & culture. I need to suspect that Wilson did his full share, if not more of the house work and cooking. But I always thought they were very fond of each other.

I have just had a long interruption, company for over two hours, but I hope to finish this in time for tonights mail.

You say in your last letter that you hope to go to Burnsville again this summer. Now dear Lizzie if you go, do have your Photograph taken and send me one. I think it must be that there is an artist there to take them and it would give me so much pleasure to see you as you are now. I never can believe you are growing old unless I see it.

Hannah Rantoul³ is going to Florida to escort one of her nieces home who has been spending the winter there, for her health. I tried to persuade her to come to see you on the way, but she thinks it would take her too much out of her way.

I expect my Fred¹⁸ to be married in June & then I shall have three daughters, three sons and three grandsons. He will be married in Baltimore in church, and come right home to us here. She¹⁹ has no Mother²⁰ and her Father²¹ died last fall. After a little visit they will return and live in Baltimore. He is practicing law there now, and is getting on very well.

I have been better this winter than I was in the summer, but the cold weather and the bad walking has kept me in. I have hardly been out since the year came in until I went to Beverly last Saturday. But the weather has moderated very much now & might tempt me out, but the ice in the streets melts slowly and the walking is very bad, both wet and slippery and muddy.

Give my love to G.¹ I hope now she has written once, she will try again, but do not you write less often because she writes. I want to get a letter at least every three months & that would give four a year. I am sure that is not very much now dear Lizzie. Don't you think you can do that much for me? Your last letter was written in Dec so I shall expect another in March. Four from you and as many from G, as she feels disposed to write. I suppose I must not take the liberty of marking out her work as I do yours.

Mr. Story²² sends love. We often talk of you. I should very much like to have G. come on & make me a visit. Perhaps some time she may.

Lovingly & truly your 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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