Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 6 April 1880

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She says the barrels were sent three weeks ago (13 March), and she anxiously waits for a letter from Elizabeth confirming their arrival, and talks about her health and all her aches and pains.]

Somerville April 6, ‘80

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

I have been expecting to hear from you for some days but as no letter comes I begin to feel that I ought to have written before this to tell you that the barrels and letter had gone. I trusted however to a letter I sent the day before the barrels started, supposing that if you did not hear from them you would think it strange and would write to know the reason why. But Isaac1 thinks I ought to have written, so "better late than never," I write now. We have two mails a day & I wait rather impatiently for them to get in, but then, I am sure it will come next mail. I dare say there may be delays on your end of the route that we do not allow for. It is three weeks last Saturday since the barrels left and just three weeks today since Isaac wrote and enclosed the bill of lading or freight (I don't know which it is called) and three dollars to pay the same. I hope nothing has happened to them but of course we feel a little anxious and impatient to hear from them.

I want to hear too how you are getting on with your new house. You must write me all about it. If I know just how your house looks I shall be able to imagine just how you are situated which is what I want.

I hope as soon as you get the barrels you will be able to go and make your visit with Georgianna's2 friend. I do think you need something of the kind and I know the change will do you good, besides giving you a great deal of pleasure.

Will John Edwin3 stay with you this summer? If he comes to Massachusetts do ask him to come and see me. I should so like to see him and should have so much to ask about you.

I won't give up the hope that I may someday see you, but I get lamer every year and my right hand is shut all but the first finger & thumb that I use for writing. I can't write very well anyway; I don't know as I ever did, but you would wonder how I wrote so well if you saw my hand. I am not able to sew at all now. Don't you wonder what a woman is good for if she can't sew? Well I can talk, perhaps I may do some good that way. I can get out some and make a few calls, and as the weather gets warmer I hope to go more. With my disease, Rheumatism, it is absolutely necessary that I keep moving. If I keep still, I stiffen and lose the power of moving. Even now, holding my head still writing this letter, the back of my neck is so stiff I can hardly turn it. But it will get better after I have moved it about a little. I have not been able to turn my head round as I used to for sixteen years, and I have not been able to bend either wrist for fourteen years. I don't want to complain, I have many comforts and a pleasant home to be thankful for, but I write this that you may know how I am.

Write as soon as you get this. To yours lovingly,

Lizzie

Love to your family.

Have I written you that William Peabody4 was married this last January? Waited some time hasn't he!

  1. Isaac Story (1818-1901), Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's husband
  2. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's daughter
  3. John Edwin Abbot (1831-1911), Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch's brother
  4. William Frederick Peabody (1817-1890), brother of Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's former fiance Charles Peabody