CLARA BARTON FAMILY PAPERS Barton, Mary Jan-Feb 1886&Outdated Washington D.C. Jan 13"th /86 My dear Cousin: It is I who should say "mea culpa"- certainly not you I did not quite understand to be sure but it was [?] my own stupidity- not through your obscurity The fact is as I have told Mr Hity I am so afraid of being in the way I think you have been so shabily treated -if I understand the rights of theI owe you five cents I believe on acct of that telegram. That is if you will credit me with twenty given to a small boy for leaning off pavement in front of store-house On the whole, I don't believe you can have that same five cents, for I think that is owing me for the scare I got in seeing a burly policeman coming up the steps. So now I shall expect you- "after the 15th." I shall have my trunk moved out of the back room this week. I think you ought to get "us" to put up the stove you want before you come - that is a room that needs a fire. - I mean cases - by others occupying your house, that I get a little, just a little, sensitive It seems to me that I could not get out quick enough if you wanted your house. I thought too that perhaps you had not quite decided and that if that was the case I would like to know. for some other chance for me might arise that I could decide to reject, or hold open.- as the state might be. I beg your pardon for the trouble to which I put you By the way,a stove for I tried a fire on andrions and am satisfied it "cant be did" It is colder than anything you can dream of here now -at least it was for the mercury is slowly rising We are all "friez up" to the third story There was no way to prevent it that I could find out turning off the water would not unless it was off all the time- + then the range was said not to be safe It is hard to know how we got froze up anyway as the water hardly runs in the kitchen because of "folks" having kept their faucets open - So it is fortunate you are not here now but we will surely never have such a spell again I don't know how to "settle" the account for gardening equitable- so I think you had best-"drop the subject" I don't know why Mr H. told you anything about it I should not I was so glad that you did not blame me ot think Mr H officious for finding out all about the house next door I agree with you entirely that his friendship is very worth the having -for he will even protect one- if they will allow it - against's one own self That is to say that he will wound one's self -love if he thinks they are going the wrong way And if his advice ever even seemsinterested - in the end it is found that he is not the one who is under obligation That is my experience with him Now is there anything that I - or Mr Hity or Alfred can do in anticipation of your arrival? Just say so please remember no one can live for himself alone + we ought to help each other I stand ready if you will let me know the day of your expected return to have dinner ready for you (after my return from office) I shall see Mr H to night I presume Don't fail to say what you want I want it please With love + great haste Mary BWashington D.C. Jan. 1.st /86 My dear Cousin: - Thank you a thousand times and the Doctor also, for your pretty card and loving wish. The New Year came in with such an acclaim that I, whom sentiment cannot keep out of bed, heard it. Cannon, sky- rockets and bells ringing made things lively I enclose postal order with this. A gentleman called last Monday who seemed much distressed at finding you "not here". He left the name of Rev. Mr Abraham from Trenton N.J. - I did not know the "old man" was alive- & I should not have expected to find him in W. Your letter of the 21'st ult. rec'd. I was am very certain that you and I shall agree- if not in one thing we shall in another, i.e. to have no disagreement The house next door is not occupied - I am sorry for the condition of things there. I wish there was no uncertainty about you being able to live in W.- it might help you to a decision. Mrs O'Connor called to learn the where abouts of Mrs Melcher. I quietly told her that you had not been satisfied with her and that she was not living with you. She agreed that it was "her own fault." - in fact it was Jennie she seemed to care for, & regretted that she had such a mother. Pleaseexcuse the way in which this letter is thrown to = gether. I have not been quite well lately. With a "Happy New Year" for you and the Dr. I remain with much love Cuz MaryTHE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. This company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after sending the message. This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE, and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above. THOS. T. ECKERT, General Manager. NORVIN GREEN, President. NUMBER 11 SENT BY S B REC'D BY CHECK 10 Pd Received at 4(8?)6 P January 9 1886 Dated Washington DC To Miss Clara Barton Please telegraph your (?????) how long can I stay here Mary Barton Washington D. C. Feb. 2nd/86 My dear Cousin: I thought I would await your arrival this month before "settling my account." But it will do no harm to "drop you a line" saying so then if you don't get this letter as an Irishman might remark, you will know the reason why. Then I want to talk to you a little bit about the plumbing. You know that the "runnysouth had had an unprecedented spell of cold weather I think the length was what did the most damage I was afraid to have the water turned off all the time with a fire in the range and if there had not been a fire there the water back would have frozen I could not get any one to assure me of safety either with a fire inthe range - or without so I was very uneasy Even the drain pipes froze up stairs while the water was running So when the thaw came there was much mischief to the pipes disclosed No damage to the walls for I watched everything too close for that The four pipes in the back room were riddled + the one in the Doctor's room A friend who has had much experience having been the owner + trustee of a good deal of property secured me a plumber Four or five new pipes were put in + his bill was $8.25 whichstruck me as moderate He was for putting in stop-cocks to prevent the same thing recurring again as I understood him to say that it could not be prevented without such - to turn the water off the upper part of the house I asked several property renters who paid for water repairs? they all told me the owners I asked the plumber to whom he looked for payment of such bills he said some times to one some times to the other but in this case he thought the owner should pay owing to the manner in which the pipes were put in This is my first experience in "bursted pipes" - excuse me for wanting to know, you know I will pony up of course if you think I ought Meanwhile Mr. Hity has put up the sheet- iron stove + at my suggestion had arranged said pipes- not them either, but their successors in an undress uniform consisting of several wrappings of newspapers You have seen that every now and then letter come to the house which I shall continue to send on until otherwise ordered In great haste With love Cuz MaryUNITED STATES POSTAL CARD WASHINGTON FEB 18 6 PM 88 Nothing but the address to be on this side. Mary Barton ans. Mar. 7- Miss Clara Barton Dansville Livingston Co. New York ? relatives 34 Mary Barton Home, Tuesday P.M. Dear Clara Your note reached me this morn. Am not glad at all that you did not reach here before your back gave out. I should deem it a privilege to nurse you, and hope you will come just as soon as you are able to travel. I wish Mrs Sage would come with you. Tell her I'd like much to see her again. Tell her the cousin of whom I wrote her is now in this place visiting his sister. He has been treated by Dr Taylor and finds comfort from the rubbing, but restoration is probably hopeless. Fortunately he can command every comfort that wealth can procure. A friend is waiting to take this to the mail so I have only time to add again how much I shall rejoice to see you. Lovingly, Mary Barton C. H. Gay was here last Sunday. Left message of regards for you. Thursday A. M. Dear Cousin: We shall be delighted to see you when you do come. From the number of inquiries made should advise you to announce your coming by "cards for an evening" I try to dodge Mr Mann on Sundays - without success. Mrs Genl Boynton has sent to know when you will come. Mr Taylor hangs round the corner A sweet looking little lady, name unknown, called. Mrs Hopperton has been once or twice. How fortunate for you that you did not come before. On the 6th inst. there was 17 inches of snow on a level in the back yard. It has all gone now. All well at this end. With love M. B.Friend Clara- We regret to hear of your accident by which we are all made to suffer- I hope you will soon be able to make the forward movement + that it shall rather aid to than detract from the length of yr visit--- Cant you induce Mrs.Gage to accompany you + renew her acquaintance with H. where she had many friends who remember her with pleasurable recollections - We should be very glad to see her also- Very Respy [?]