Searching for Susan
Page 23Edwin's pencil is put to use over the weekend.
Sat. Eve. Sept. 8, 1866
My dear friend
Your letter with the familiar postmark "Lynn" was received last evening and enjoyed very much and I now take pleasure in answering it though I would much prefer to spend the evening with you. That pleasure I have in anticipation and must make this substitute answer for this evening. I thank you for placing my name first on your list of correspondents and also for your kind remembrance of me and I can assure you that have not been forgotten.
I should be pleased to visit "high rock" with you and hope to do so someday. I am glad to learn that school has opened so pleasantly and that you have the order of exercises so much to your mind. What a decided change of weather we have this evening. I find the wind rather troublesome among my dahlias and additional supports necessary to keep them upright.
My brother and wife returned last evening. They left home Wednesday P.M. While in Boston they were taken with the same mania for pictures that we had and went through about the same experience. The result of the tin type fever on them I will send you. If you are in want of more goods I shall be very happy to show you the place where they can be procured and if you will meet me in Boston next Wednesday P.M. I will assist what I can in procuring a supply.
I think it will be well to try some other artist as Mr. Southworth's supply must be nearly exhausted. My brother went to Seaver's on Tremont Row and I think got very good pictures. I was surprised to learn that you should condescend to read such low stuff as falls from the black guard's lips. I derive a good deal of satisfaction in reading his speeches as I feel the more of them he makes the better it will be for the Republicans or the true friends of the union. I hope he will continue his journey to St. Louis where the cholera is prevailing and if it is the Lord's will that he should be one of the victims I will try and be reconciled to it for "he doeth all things well."
I am sorry and surprised that Henry Ward Beecher should wish to be found in such company.
Henry Ward Beecher was the son on Lyman Beecher, a nationally prominent evangelist of the time, and brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Henry Ward Beecher, a minister like his father, became widely known on the lecture circuit, especially with those in the abolitionist movement. Beecher raised funds to free slaves and sent guns to the mid-west, arming abolitionist in the area. He was a strong supporter of temperance, women's suffrage and Darwin's recently published theory of evolution.
Mother is in her usual health and I am now boarding with her. She was much pleased with the articles you purchased for her. I received a letter from James this eve. He speaks of your porcelain picture as very fine and I have a great desire to see it and perhaps if agreeable to you we will ride up to Danvers, where I suppose it is kept, and examine the goods. I will be at the station in Boston Wednesday P.M. on the arrival of the 2 o'clock train from Lynn and shall be pleased to meet you but if I do not see you there I will take the 3 o'clock train for Lynn or Danvers as most agree able to you. I hope to hear from you by the Tuesday evening mail informing me which will best suit your convenience and pleasure.
Yours etc.
Edwin
The next day finds Edwin writing again.
Acton Sunday Evening Sept. 9, 1866
Dear Friend,
What a cool comfortable day we have had and this evening makes us begin to think of frosts and approaching winter. I am always sorry to see the first frost for it makes sad work of my garden where you know I so much enjoy spending my leisure time. I made my usual bouquet for the church this morning and think I was successful in furnishing one that was satisfactory. I should be happy if the distance did not prevent my passing it into your hands.
I suppose you have attended church at the plains today if the labors of the week have not been too much to admit of your doing so. We had a teacher of the freedmen from N. Carolina address us this A.M. He gave a very interesting account of his labors among that despised and unfortunate race.
I took dinner "at home" with brother John and family as usual. I am hoping the time will come when I can dine at home without inviting the neighbors to provide. Do you wonder that I should have that feeling? I have as good a mother as anyone can have and my friends all make life as pleasant as they can for me but after one has a home of their own for eight years it is difficult to give up and come down to boarding out again.
I called at my brother's this eve and found them sitting around the stove which seemed so comfortable that I started a fire myself after returning home and if you could drop in and share it with me it would do away with the necessity of writing and I think I should enjoy it more. Perhaps I have written enough to satisfy you for this time and trust you will pardon me if I have said too much and shall not object to your paying me by returning the same quantity but of superior quality.
EdwinEdwin's musings don't seem to have generated the response from Susan one might expect.
Lynn, Monday eve. Sept. 10, 1866
My dear Friend.
The nine o'clock bell has just finished ringing & quietly seated in my little sanctum I will write you a few lines for the morning mail. I felt so sure there would be a letter for me that I went round to the office on my way from school at noon, but came empty away, with the impression that the evening mail would be more indulgent, in which I was not disappointed. I thank you for your nice long letter; for the tintypes, one of which I call very good, the other I never have seen; and for the sweet little flowers: you know how much I prize them.
The weather is decidedly cool & (I do not know as I ought to tell you, lest you should think me careless, but indeed I am not)has visited on me a disagreeable cold , which I am trying to rid myself of & think I shall be successful; I trust you will escape a like misfortune. But I do enjoy being out, these delightful autumn days.
I did not attend church at the plains yesterday, but listened to Mr. Holbrook at the Baptist. From this you will infer that I was in Danvers. I enjoyed my visit home, but the hours seem to fly more swiftly there than I like to have them.
Rev. Mr. Currier's church (where Mr. Hills attends) was burned to the ground on Sabbath morning at 2 A.M. The origin of the fire not yet known, supposed to have been an accident of the choir who met there the evening before for practice.
Mr. Hills' salary has been raised to $2,000. And the probability is, that the assistant's will be placed at $650. Don't you think it will be worthwhile to teach school for the present with such compensation?Here again Susan is doing a little politicking about continuing to teach, if matters should become more serious. She is always polite, but lets her feelings be known. Her letter continues.
I had not thought of having any more tintypes taken at present, for I do not enjoy the fun very much.
Being rather too stupid to write last evening I will add a few lines this morning, and then after breakfast & prayers it will be time for school.
I hardly know what to say to you with regard to meeting you in Boston. If it were not for disarranging your plans & causing you any disappointment, I should prefer to go to Danvers before going to Boston, as I can do my errand at Black's better after going home. Would it be as pleasant & agreeable to you to come to Lynn at the time you usually do? And I shall be most happy to have you visit Danvers & stop as long as you are able to do so. Shall I meet you then at Mrs. Hills'?
I have finished breakfast & now must hurry to school. My cold is better. Excuse my hurried letter & hoping I have not disarranged your plans, & that I shall see you tomorrow with much esteem, I am very aff. yrs.
Susan
P.S. Please do that which will accommodate you best. Will you?
Yrs. S