Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

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

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She tells Elizabeth about her sons, where they live and work; talks about Charles Peabody and his family, and says she doesn't regret not marrying him; talk and asks about Elizabeth's new house; talks about a letter and enclosure Elizabeth's husband had sent to her husband Isaac, which he took to a Mr. Gardner; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville July 6, 1880

My Dear Sister,

It is now more than two months since I recd your last letter. I did not think to wait so long before writing but company and warm weather have hindered and now I find I am owing almost everyone a letter. I go out more in warm weather than in cold and when I am at home feel tired and have to rest, so do not feel so much like writing.

My boy Isaac¹ came home for 4th of July but staid but a few days. He thinks he will come again for a longer stay in October. He is looking very well. I guess he does not have to work so hard there as he did on the Lowell Road here. He is now in Philadelphia on the same rail road as when he was in Baltimore. He had a telegram and left B. so suddenly that even his brothers did not know of it.

Willie² has gone out to Cantonville about ten miles from B. and is keeping house there in an old farmhouse that used to belong to May's³ father,⁴ a small farm, about 28 acres. I don't think he does anything with that, but he has a garden. He thinks he would like to stay all winter & have a horse and drive in, but they may change before cold weather. Of course they cannot have the comforts & conveniences of city houses, unless they put them in. So our prospect of seeing them this summer is small.

Fred,⁵ who has been admitted to the Baltimore bar, is quite busy now, but the court will close soon, & then I suppose he will come for a few weeks. He is in Morris Hinckley & Co.⁶ office. Did you not know a Mr. Morris when you were in Baltimore? How long ago that seems. Perhaps it was his grandfather!

My brother's⁷ wife⁸ and daughter⁹ have also been making me a little visit last month. She is now 17 years old and very much of a girl. Another year I suppose will make her a young lady.

You ask where Charles Peabody¹⁰ is. He is in New York, I suppose practising law. He has been Judge, but in New York the Judges are chosen for 5 years, so he is not now, although he still retains the title. Here in Massachusetts the Judges are appointed and keep the place until they are old if they wish. He has four sons¹¹ & one daughter,¹² one son married, two sons lawyers, one a doctor & I believe one a civil or mining engineer. I think they are all in business. He is well off, perhaps we may say rich. You remember his wife¹³ had money. I have never met her but the family all speak of her as a very nice loveable, lady like woman. She was much afflicted with the rheumatism for several years before her death, was fleshy and not able to get about as well as I, they say. She died from consumption, and they have felt anxious about the girl, but she is well now I think.

There I have given you a long account and have one thing more to add. I have never regretted that I did not marry him,¹⁰ have always felt grateful to God that the way I was not to go was hedged up and the one I was to go was opened for me. And I believe that is the way God does for us. If we will only trust Him He will make the path plain to us. We can walk in it and not be afraid. Commit our way unto the Lord and He will bring it to pass. I have had my trials, but as I look back over my life I can clearly see the guiding hand of God leading me on through them all; and I feel I can say, I am thankful to Him for each one of them. They have been good for me.

"Every sorrow, every smart,
That the Eternal Father's heart
Hath appointed me of yore,
Or hath yet for me in store
As my life flows on, I'll take
Calmly, gladly for His sake,
No more faithless murmurs make.

I commenced another sheet but remembered I had this Photograph which Mother¹⁴ sends you with much love. She was up for a few days since I got your last letter. Does it not look well? She makes a very nice looking picture and it looks just like her too. It was taken in '77. She is now 80. She was a good deal broken down by Aunt Lovett's¹⁵ death, but is getting over it and looks better, but I don't think she will ever be so fleshy again.

Aunt Lucy¹⁶ has been very sick, did not think she would live, but she is better now & gaining strength fast.

Frances¹⁷ sends her love to you. Neither of the girls¹⁸ are married. I suppose H.¹⁹ wrote you that Joa Picket²⁰ was dead, I did not hear of it myself till a fortnight after and was very much surprized.

I suppose by this time you are quite comfortabley settled in your new house. Of course it is far from being finished but in summer one can be comfortable where you could not be in cold weather. I suppose you are busy enough making and fixing up clothes. I hope by winter you will get things so well arranged that you will feel that after all it was not such a very great misfortune to be burned out. I do hope you will get every thing comfortable by cold weather. I want you to write me all about your house, how you are fixed and what you may still need. I hope you will be able to go visiting as you spoke of this summer.

Have you fixed the hannanah dress and how does it do? I thought that would make you a nice dress for the summer. I delight in thinking of you and Ga.²¹ walking about in the dresses that I know so well. Will you not like them all the better because I have worn them?

Since I commenced this page a young man has called who has been in the University in Baltimore & who has boarded with my boys for a few years past. He leaves New York tomorrow for London & expects to be in Germany studying Mathamatics for the next three years. He seems almost like one of our boys.

Mr. Story²² got Mr. Bowditch²³ letter with the enclosed and carried it himself over to Mr. Gardner. Mr. Story talked of writing Mr. B. in answer but he has been unusually busy both in Court and also with some administration business that has bothered him a good deal. I think he will write before long.

Give my love to your husband, Ga., & the boys. How I should like to see you all. I hope you will be able to read this. I don't often cross for I don't write well enough now my hand is so lame, but I wanted to send the picture. Do write very soon & tell me all about yourselves & your house.

With much love, your sister Lizzie.

[Enclosed with the above letter was a smaller paper, with the following on one side.]

Mr. Story says he took the letter to Mr. Gardner & without informing him of its contents. He expressed much sympathy with your loss but added that he had met great losses himself and was not able to do as he had done for even his relatives. Mr. Story thought his appearance bore him out in this. He said he was sorry he could not assist you.

[On the other side was the following.]

I write the other side at Mr. Story's dictation. I see nothing of John Edwin.²⁴ Has he not come north yet? I hope he will come out & see me. I hope to hear much from him about you. My own health is quite good, only hands & feet are lame with rheumatism. I have not been to Beverly since Aunt Lovett¹⁵ funeral the 1st of Jan. I want to go soon if I can. Tell me about your health. You was not well when you wrote.

 

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

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