Searching for Susan

Susan writes from her home.

Danversport. Aug. 18th '66 Saturday P.M.

Dear Friend.

I felt like writing to you and as you consider me the indebted one I will spend a few minutes as I have many Saturday afternoons before. I cannot tell you how pleasant it is as I look from my window. I think descriptions are powerless to convey such pictures as nature has given us so abundantly this season. I mailed a letter to you on Tuesday of this week and was some disappointed in not hearing from you till to day, when I received your letter dated at Saratoga and the "guide" from Albany. I was quite surprised to learn that you were so far away and was glad you were able to free yourself from the care of business for a few days. I know your journey must have been a very pleasant one and trust it will be beneficial, as well. I presume tonight finds you safely at home, praising it none the less for absence from it and the inconveniences one is subject to when travelling.Is there a hint of annoyance that Edwin neither mentioned the trip he was taking nor had he invited her along, as she had offered him to accompany her on her vacation? Perhaps a tad of sarcasm too, when she mentions he was able to free himself from business, which he wasn't able to do to join her in Vermont. He must have known of the trip to New York when he visited her at Danversport a few days before his departure. Perhaps we're reading too much into this, and what she tells us in the rest of her letter is perhaps the reason for her rather somber tone.

I was at the office at the opening of the mail this P.M. and the same mail which brought tidings from you gave us news of my Aunt Mary's death. She was the youngest sister of my mother and resembled her so much in manner and features that she was particularly dear to me. We occupied the same house with her for more than fifteen years, and it seems very hard to me to think she too must be gathered to her long home. She will be buried tomorrow at Ipswich directly after the church service in the afternoon. Father, Charles and Mary and I will go tomorrow to attend the funeral. Her disease was dysentery which prevails there at this season. I do not think I shall make my intended visit there now, but shall return with my brother Sunday P.M.

I spent the fifth of July with Aunt Mary and she was in her usual health and I little thought as I bade her goodbye, it was the last time she would ever express her kindly interest for me. I trust she has entered into rest and may we not believe my dear mother was permitted to welcome her to those eternal mansions?

Mr. & Mrs. Holroyd are still with us, expecting to return to Providence, Rhode Island Wednesday in the first train.

Monday morn.

We attended the funeral yesterday and returned about nine in the evening having quite a rain most of the way, but we were nicely protected with warm clothing & did not take cold. Aunt Mary looked perfectly natural, just like her own dear self even that death look was wanting & almost a hue of health taking its place. We shall miss her so much.

I shall be happy to see you this week and hope you will find it convenient to spend a few days with us. Shall we look for you on Wednesday?

Does your brother return this week? Charlie is wishing he would remain in Acton another week for he has not had quite enough vacation.

Hoping to see you and to hear from you soon if convenient for you to write,

I remain very truly yrs.

Susan Smith

Edwin doesn't write for a full week but the two have gotten together in Acton. She was accompanied by Edwin's brother James. It's assumed he offered his condolence on the death of her aunt while they were together.

Acton Sat. Eve Aug. 25, 1866

Dear Friend:

What a splendid evening we are having. I have thought of you many times as looking out on the river if not taking a sail and wished that I could enjoy it with you. I felt quite lonely after you left with James and family. I enjoyed your visit very much and my only regret was that it was so brief and the weather so unfavorable but the hope that you will at some future time make a longer stay helped me to feel reconciled to it. I conclude that you had a safe journey home as I have heard nothing from you to the contrary and I think you promised to write if anything special occurred.

How did you get along with the pickles and other baggage? I feared the bouquet would cause you more trouble than pleasure as you had so many other cases. I regretted that I did not make my plans to go with you and assist in the transfer between the two depots. I can imagine how you all looked and have no doubt it caused quite a commotion if you carried the baggage as proposed by James. I hope he procured some other conveyance. My brother's wife was much disappointed in not having the pleasure of meeting you. They have been to take a ride this evening. Last evening I took a ride with brother Smith.Henry Smith, no relation to Susan Smith, is married to Edwin's younger sister Abbie who also lives in Acton. They have two young children.

I have been troubled today with one of those colds which require the constant use of the pocket handkerchief and can shed tears as easily as the members of the Philadelphia Convention did on seeing Mass. and So. Carolina delegations coming into the wigwam arm in arm, I think I took the cold by sleeping with the window open at mother' s and not being protected as I should have been from the dampness. I have just been down to mothers and taken one of her doses of pain killer which I hope may have a favorable effect. I do not often indulge in that way. I hope you did not get any addition to yours during your stay in Acton. It is getting late and I will bid you good night and perhaps will add a line tomorrow evening. Hoping for the pleasure of hearing from you soon, I remain very truly yours, etc.

Edwin

This is the first instance of this reduction of formality by his signing his first name!

Edwin's political leanings are certainly made clear! He speaks strongly against Andrew Johnson, who has been president only a year and a half after assuming the position following Lincoln's assassination. Johnson, a southerner by birth and residence, remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. Lincoln chose him as a running mate in 1864 in an effort to display unity as the war crawled toward conclusion. Johnson, whom Lincoln had appointed military governor of Tennessee, showed southern bias early after taking office.

Johnson quickly alienated himself to congress by vetoing much of the Republican planed reconstruction legislation, while being against the fourteenth amendment and backing the reappointment of Southern legislators. This mutual animosity led to an 1869 trial to impeach the man widely despised, especially in the Boston area.

Edwin doesn't wait for Susan's reply but writes again the following day.

Sabbath Evening Acton Aug. 26, 1866

We have had a beautiful day. I suppose you have attended church. Did you go to the plains? We had an unusually large attendance. I made what I thought a very pretty bouquet for the church which I carried down to mother this evening. She called it the best of the season.

John and family came in and took their dinner with me. Father and mother called in after the evening meeting. John starts on another journey tomorrow to be gone two or three days. My cold is much better and I hope to hear that you are entirely relieved of yours. I will close with kind regards to all the friends. I remain as ever,

Yours, etc.

E

They continue to chide each other as to whose turn it is to write.

Danversport, Tues. evening Aug. 28th 1866

My dear Friend.

I had just returned from Lynn in the last train and on inquiry if there was any letter for me, yours of Saturday evening was given to me. I need not tell you I was much pleased to receive it, and I had just finished reading it, when Mary asked "what I would give for another?" and handed me your second letter. I sometimes wonder if other people enjoy receiving letters as much as I do. Do you?

I suppose, without doubt, I am now in debt and will get out of such a situation as soon as possible. I received a letter from Lissie Hills yesterday saying she was to start for Chicago next Thurs. morning & wished me to come to Lynn if I could do so as she wished very much to see me, as she might not return before spring. Just as we were ready for dinner on the same day Mary's cousin came and as he was going through Salem, he took me in his carriage and from there I went to Beverly, stopping till two o'clock and then I left for Mrs. Hills'. She will board me next term if I wish, and I think it will be easier than to return home every day, and suppose next Monday will find me in the old accustomed place. I expect at first the restraint of school life will be a little irksome. I have had my liberty so long.

I think I may have two classes in Latin; reading "Caesar," which I shall very much enjoy; although it will require more study out of the classroom.

I thought of you many times after leaving you on Friday and would have enjoyed your company home with us. My visit was very pleasant notwithstanding the rain and I shall remember it with pleasure. She continues the letter the next morning.

Wednesday morn.

Since writing to you on Monday, Charles has planned to go to Boston & will probably take Mary with him and he will go tomorrow if pleasant & as one object of my going was to obtain some photographs at Black's, I think I may do better if they should be with me, as he will not remember me.

I have hesitated in deciding for I shall feel much disappointed in not meeting you, and on any other consideration should defer going till Friday. If it storms tomorrow, I shall go on the next day. If you should be in Boston tomorrow, you would quite likely find us at Black's, up in the upper room; in the morning. I do not know what train Charles will take, perhaps I had better say we will be there (at Black's) at ten o'clock. If I do not see you, I hope I may hear from you on Saturday. May I not? If I am successful in the picture line I will inform you. Today I go to your brother's and will remember you & think you would like to be one of the company.

I will not write more now as some other employment is waiting for me. Hoping to see you soon, if not tomorrow, I am aff. Yours,

Susan S.

Their lives move forward but we sense some decision needs to be made. A new term at school is beginning.