[Clara Barton Family Papers] Hale, Robert S. July 1869 - Jan. 1881R S. Hale
Ansd July 16 / 69 -


Elisabethtown, 1 July / 69
My Dear Cousin
Your letter of the 
20th with its postscript
of a week later, & enclosing 
draft of $200. for
Mr. Ramsey reached
me yesterday.
You don't say a word
further of your time
of leaving so I am
quite in the dark 
about you, as your 
last letter previous 
named the 25th June
for your time of departure. 
I infer that 
you hadn't then gone. 
I expect to be in 
Washington 15th inst. 
& have written Mr.Ramsey that I will
then close up the 
arrangement with 
him.
With a great
deal of love from 
us all, -& all good 
wishes for a happy 
voyage & a good time 
generally
Your loving coz
Rob: S. Hale,
To
Miss Clara Barton
Let us hear from 
you often & know where 
letters will find you.
RSH


J. HAYDEN, Pres't.             H. ROBERTS, Cash'r.         W.B. HALE, V. Pres't.
                                              CAPITAL, $400,000.
                          The First National Bank of Northampton
                                      Formerly The Holyoke Bank.
                                                                  Northampton, Mass., 24 July 1869
Dear Clara:-
     I left Washington 
22nd, - arrived here
last eveg where Vira
& Abby are. We go home 
on Monday.
I closed with Ramsey
- paying him the 
$200. & took note & mortg
for $800. - payable 20
July / 72, with annual 
int. at 6 per cent 
from 20 July / 70, - giving
him one year's int. -
He seemed very much
gratified at the 
proposition, -& expressed hiseither retain the note & mortg.
 or deposit them with Branch
Bros as you may prefer. If
you have been left any securities
there besides your bonds perhaps
they may as well go there. If 
not I will keep them safe
for you or send them elsewhere
as you may direct.
     With much love & a goodbye 
kiss if I don't see you again
Your loving cousin
                        Rob. S. Hale,
To Clara Barton, 


entire willingness to pay
the whole amount & 
int. without any allowance 
or deduction
- indeed expressly repudiated 
all claim. Under
your instructions
I trust it best to do as I 
did & am sure it will 
be satisfactory to you.
     Vira & Abby send much 
love to yourself & all 
friends at Oxford, - especially 
Cousin Vira & 
David & family.
     Write me what day 
you will be in N.Y. - as
I may possibly meet you 
there.
     I left Ramsey's 
mortg for record. I 
have the note, - & willmine. I have felt 
quite doubtful about
investments that
have offered, & finally
drew out $1000. & loaned
it in a note payable 
on demand,
with two good names
at 7 per cent. I think
this safer & better than
investing in any of the
securities offered at
present, - especially in
view of the fact that
you might by + by want
money & your Railroad
bonds not prove convertible
at the moment.
     I hope you are having
a good time every way &
improving greatly in
health. I hear of you only
thro' Jules. - Pray with 
me. With all cousinly
love - & more -  
                   Rob. S. Hale
To Clara Barton, 


[*RH
36 bonds*]

[*Judge Hale
Ansd. Feby. 22- 1870*]
Washington DC.
Treasury Department,
              14 Dec. 1869
My Dear Clara
     I greatly reproach 
myself for not having
written you before
this. - although I think
the duty of opening fire
was upon you - not
only as the moving body
While I am stationary,
- but also in light of the
newly established position
of your superior sex, -
in which the initiative
in all movements plainly
lies with you.
Mr. Hits tells me he
goes to New York today, &thence direct to Geneva,
so thinking you will
receive a letter more
directly & surely by him
than by mail & so write.
I have been here for
something more than a
month - alone - Go home
in about a week for the
holidays & expect Vira & 
Abby to return with me,
- to remain some weeks
at least & I hope for the
winter.
Harry has been very ill
indeed - with typhoid
fever, - was confined to
his bed some five weeks
but is now steadily improving. 
All the rest


at home very well.
Have only seen Mrs. 
Vassall once since she
returned. Haven't yet
seen Jules's wife - but
mean to very soon.
I recd from Mr. Shaw
the $1000. Railroad bond
you loaned him, & deposited 
it with the others
with Brown, Brothers & Co.
- We had you renew
for $650. to your credit
with them when you
left. Sam paid in
some $300. - (I haven't
the precise figures by
me, - & the sav. int. on
your RR bonds was
some $300. or thereaboutsWell that did not prove to be a 
sale. The gentleman not being able to
meet the payments and a few weeks
later I sold it to a young Pole of
noble birth who had deserted the service
of Emperor William under whose jurisdiction
he had fallen, and fled to this
country, for $1300. of which he has
already paid in two installments $1000.
and I hold a mortgage for the other
$300. The Insurance -etc-
     Sam Barton who makes a most
thorough business man. made all the
arrangements and had taken care
of that and some other land I had
here during the last year, paid tax 
-etc- and when the last payment
was made. I gave him $100, and 
he placed the other $900 in the 
People's Saving Bank Worcester at 6 pc
subject to call if I wanted it for use.
I do not intend to use it but leave
it to be put with more of the same kind
to be used toward a home if I should


                            New England Village
                           July. 2. 1875
Dear Cousin Robert -
     From your positive 
refusal to visit us this summer I see
that I must continue to write you
miserable letters, but I have so many
little nothings to say. So many points to
touch that I am confused, and almost
discouraged. I want some days of talk
instead of some hours of scribbling.
I do hope this finds you all well and
happy as the happiest - in the full engagement -
of a delightful summer up among the
mountains.
     It seems so long since I have
heard from you all, and the worst
of it is that as usual, the fault is
mine: it is not that I dislike to
write my friends for I like to, but sometimes
the flesh is weak - I am much 
better than last Summer but can
seldom leave my chamber, if Iattempt it for a few days there are
certain to be followed by a few
more days on which I cannot
leave my bed. The last five days
have been of this order. I am weak
and ill, and I cannot rally from 
it, and I have almost concluded
it is of no use to try, and it is
less than useless to complain and
the person cannot be brought
to light who will say they ever hear
me do it. - I take it as it comes
and bear it as it is. I have no
physician since some time last
autumn, almost a year and beyond 
the necessary waiting upon that
a person seldom leaving their room
must have, I think I am not
a severe burden upon my nurse -
I can take care of my own correspondence
and ordinary business affairs -
see all persons who call, direct a little
my house - and take a few stitches


in a "rented" garment - sometimes-
(This last is for Vira & the girls. men 
are not supposed to know that rents
do not repair themselves) Beyond 
this I have neither capacity - aspiration, 
nor expectation.
     Now having done, as I think the most
ample justice to this disagreeable
subject - let me leave it and turn to
things more necessary to be discussed.
     Financially I am I hope 
doing a little better than last year
my little county village home is
less expensive and more comfortable
I hope I shall not draw much
more than one third as heavily upon
my Bankers as last year and beside
some which will apparently fall within
the expenses of this year, will really
be the outgrowth of the last. -
     You recollect - I told you I
had sold my little farm for $1200.
$500. down, the rest to mail on MortgageC. B letter to
Robt Hale
July '75
15x C Hale
36 [121?]
[*copied*]


COPY.
N.E. Ville.
December 29, 1975.
Dear 
     [This] is, first, to wish yoy all a Happy New Year! -
next, to say that your last, (I presume) was safely rec'd. and that I
most heartily approve the course you took with cousin Sessions, and thank
you very much.
     Then to say that I have been, until a day or two ago, at my very best
in two years, of course I must take a cold and fall back a little, or
it would be "too near right." I might get proud, but I am on my feet
again and up and down stairs.
     And NEXT! and you have seen it of course, is to speak of Our Dorr
and his step into Royalty. Our boy has "done us proud" I hope and
has not I fancy especially gratified his old time friends of the War
Dept. They would have been better pleased by the announcement that he had
done some little dishonest low-lived trick and got dismissed,- eh? We
shall expect him home this summer. I should like to see in reprint now
every word of that splendid speech of yours in his behalf on the floor of
Congress.
     I received a letter from Lieut. Westfall of Washington the other day
in which occurs this paragraph. "Before closing I want to ask you a
question which perhaps I ought not, but if you think so, remember the
interest I take in your welfare. When you were leaving here, and I handed
some U.S. Bonds to Judge Hale, which I had been holding in safe keeping
for you, he made this remark. "Mr. Gleason owe Clara $2000. and I wish
it was settled." "Is it settled?" It seems that the Lieut. is a little
worried about that fact, he doubtless observes that Mr. Gleason is about
changing his business, and entering one which may prove very risky to say
the least of it. His brother has "bought out" the old stand of Richards#2, December 29, 1875.
on the corner of 14 & N.Y. Ave., where I was two years ago, and they
have fitted it for a hotel, and Mr. Gleason is to keep it. He was on a 
few days ago, as he had to go to N.Y. for furnishings, they had remodeled
entirely, added a new front, more rooms & c. & c. and propose to open
on New Years.
     I know that Mr. Gleason has been terribly straightened by the District
affairs, and has not I believe he says got all his settlements yet. He
has been very kind to me through all my illness, but he never repays me
any interest on the sum in his hands, does he you? He remarked when here
that he was "going to let me have some money soon." but I know what
discount to make on that. He will not find money to spare from a new business
and it seems to me that he should be ready to give some security a little
firmer than a simple note of hand, in case he should go to [smash] as I rather
suspect he will in the end, he has now perhaps some property, not heavily
encumbered. I don't know but more likely to have now than after he had
[made?] a hotel failure in Washington and his change of business would be a 
sufficient pretext, if one were wanted for requiring some further security.
He has an elegant home in Danielsville, just finished and never occupied,
which he really should not have gone on to build and finish off,
under the present circumstances until such obligations as his to me had
been met.
     You know I never loaned that money to Mr. Gleason, nor expected him to
use a cost of it, but he was a Bank Director and I placed it in his Bank
to lie, and to be used only in case of my death, in a foreign country, and
then it was to be expended under his direction upon our family burial lot,
which certainly needs it badly enough. It may have been a loose was of
deposits, but I knew no better, I had to trust somewhere and someone.
Brown Brothers might make use of the Ten Thousand lain in their bank and#3, December 29, 1875.
fail, and what could I do? and I should not be more astonished to learn
anyday that they had done it, than I was to learn that Mr. Gleason had
ever even changed the Bonds in his keeping, and they have the same right,
and authority to use theirs, as he has his.
Please do not misunderstand me dear Cousin, I am not complaining of Mr.
Gleason, nor doubting his sincerity, and he is a friend I hold very
closely and want to do so always, but I want you to know just how it is,
and was, and if you think it best to rearrange the matter of finances
between us, please know that you have my sanction. Mr. Gleason is troubled
with too abundant hope, he means to pay all he owe me, and would like
to double it if he could, while he takes no alarm at the fact that he finds
it difficult, now in full health to pay the interest, he is not a
physically safe man, he is liable to sudden illness, or death at any
moment: is getting very heavy, and, it would be strange if an illness ever
gives him time to arrange a single business point. I presume his real
estate is all in the hands of his wife, who would be well advised, and
left well off. I doubt if Mr. Gleason ever stops to take those things
all into consideration, but I have been waiting a long time to lay
them before you. for years.
I know you will tell me that have been anxious about it longer
than I have, but I have been anxious about it ever since I found he had
touched my bonds except to lay them into his Bank, and the delicacy of
this thing has kept me from wanting anything said or done, feeling certain
he would make it good if he could, or she he could, and so he will, and
I don't like to have him pressed or annoyed, but I should like him to
secure me, so that if he has the use of my money during his life, I might
not at the termination of it, be thereby compelled to make a gift of it
to his wife who will be much better off than I and I should like the semi
annual interest the money too. I need it now in my illness.#4, December 29, 1875
     Now this is a poor dull story to write you all about, but I thought it
best to say it while I could, and if you, as my attorney, think it best
to sound Mr. Gleason upon the matter, I should be glad to have you do so. -
it will be better not to mention me as having suggested anything, but you
can act upon your own responsibility being free from the delicacies of 
friendship which trammel me. "In a nut shell" my feeling in the matter
is, - that Mr. Gleason should either pay me, or give me a mortgage on
some good unencumbered property, if he has any, with interest payable
semi annually at 7 per cent, as those were the conditions of the 
investment which he disturbed.
     I should probably have written you all this very soon if Lieut.
Westfall had not let fall his remark, but I perceive by it that lookers
on are a little anxious as well as I, and thus I lose no time, but speak
at once.
     We have no steady cold weather yet, but it is very changeable and not
over healthy.
     The friends are well I believe in Worcester and Oxford and I hope
this finds only robust health and happy holidays in my dear Cousin Vina's
home.
     Can you pardon my long letters, you know I lack the talent of condensations: -
that's one of the loans I shall not have to carry back rolled
up in a napkin.
     Love to all and let us hear often,
                       Your affec. cousin
                                Clara.
Our friend Rich. I Hinton sends me from Washington a copy of his new
book, "English Radical Leaders" published by Putnam & Sons, N.Y., one of
T. M. Higginson's proposed series of "Brief Biographies."#5, December 29, 1875.
Colonel Hinton's book embraces the biographies of such men as Faucett,
Sir Chas. Duke-n, John Lubbock, Peter Taylor, Robert Carter, Thomas Hughes,
Brassey, Plimsell & Bradlaugh. I find it a well and tastefully gotten
up volume and very readable. Have you seen it?
     And again in the Bunker Hill celebration days, did you meet Holmes
Centenial Poem "The Battle of Bunker Hill described by the old Grandmother
as she saw it from the belfry. As it was copyrighted by the committee
for whose use it was written and kept very close I fancied you might
not have seen it. I thought it was one of Oliver Wendells best.I will attend to seeing
the means provided to
pay your check of 
$1317. when it comes.
     So much for money
matters, - & you will
bear me witness. I 
haven't [human?] temper
enough to suffer a
[birching?] over.
     But now for a
[bit?] scolding - if not a
downright quarrel!
    What right have
you to talk about
Dansville, - & Dr. Jackson
- & his "House?"
     Don't you know
that that is a rival

Elisabethtown 21 Feb /76
My Dear Clara
     Your most welcome 
letter came last week
in the midst of crush
& I was tied to busily,
all the week that it
is early in this blessed
Sunday I get time to
answer it.
     I am delighted to hear
of your improved health
-& not only to hear of
it but to see the proof
in your vigorous handwriting, 
& in your wonderfully
business like
report & balance sheet.
First, then for business. 
- Your [showing?]
financially is a mustadmirable one, & if I
were as great a scold
as you would make
me out, I couldn't
find a word of fault
with it.
     Especially your "gentle
touch" to Gleason is to
be commended, - & its result 
pleasant. Touch
him again delicately
from time to time &
lead him on in the
path of well doing till
he at least makes
up the arrears of interest
your due.
     Your report to the
French Relief Fund people
& your statement of


account are all they
should be as to perspicuity
& clearness. - As usual
- or rather - as inevitable
you have done injustice 
to yourself, -
as you should have
charged all the money
you paid out, whether
you had vouchers for
it or not, - including
your travelling expenses
- for there is no reason
you should incur
this expense from
your own purse. But
it is just as well -
for I know just how
you will always do
these things, - & really
money is of no account.pect, but a perfect delight
to us all. You shall
be just one of the family
& do just as all the
rest of the family do -
i.e. precisely as you please.
     If you get sick of us
I will pack you up
bodily myself & take you
off to Dr. Jackson & his
wretched "Home" - which
I hate - just because
he seeks to rob us of you,
& "[save?] for any good or
ill" I've ever heard of him
before.
     My brother Safford
is our village physician
- & "tho' I say it." - more
[him?] full of sound
practical nothing


(2
establishment to the
"Hale Home," at Elisabethtown,
& in every
way inferior?
     Not so easy of access
to you, - not so pleasant
in its surroundings -
not so healthy in climate
- not so moderate
in expense - not so
well provided in medical
advice or nurses -
not so safe from
the invasion of nasty
medicine - not so 
quiet or conducive
to mental & physical
repose, - in short in
no way so desirable
a place for yourself &your ailments as the
"Hale Home," - & where
you can't by possibility
be half so welcome, or
do half so much good
as your presence will
do to your "fellow critters"
here.
     Dansville is some
three hundred miles
from Albany - while 
Elisabethtown is only 150. -
You can get here easier
than you can get there
by far, & I know that
when you get here
you are much better
off than you can be
at Dansville.
     We all want you to


come here & spend the
summer with us. - 
Vina - the four girls 
- Harry - & myself vote
unanimously for it.
We have a great
house - with any 
quantity of rooms -
more than we know
what to do with, -
you shall have a suite
of as many rooms as
you want - from one
to six, - & Vina & the
girls will take such
care of you as "never
was took of nobody."
     And it will not
be an inconvenience
or trouble in any us.you find to meet any of
us at the Depot, go straight
to the Delaware Ho. &
find your quarters. -
Next morning at eight
take the Saratoga train
for Westport, - where
you are due at 1-20
P.M. - I will be here to 
dinner. If you feel
so smart as not to want
company from Albany here
- say so! - & we will
meet you at Westport
instead. - Or if you are
so doubtful as to want
the [?] of a maid,
- say so - & one of the girls
or Vina will go to Albany
 & meet you. - Or
better still, agree 

3)
physiology & hygiene, than
anybody else I know.
- & he will look after
you - give you no medicine
- & tell you just
what to do, better than
any of your "Dr. Jacksons"
can, by a long shot.
     Now, Clara, this is all
meant in most thorough
earnest, - we want you
to do it - & it is just what
you ought to do.
     You have never seen
another so quiet place
as our house, - & you
probably never will.
I know we shall cure
you if you will come 
here. You can't failto be cured.
     Then you know how
many years you have
been promising to come
here - & the time has
never come till now
when you could do it.
Now you can do it
much easier than
what you propose to do.
     So you must come
     Harry or I will
meet you at Albany
& come on with you.
It is only five hours 
from Albany to our
depot, - Westport - &
less than an hour's
drive from the depot
here, - & my carriage


- a "buckboard" - & the easiest
thing you ever
rode in, - will find 
you at the depot &
bring you here.
     Leave Worcester so
as to get to Albany at
night. Write my
brother Matt a day 
or two in advance
(address "Hon. Matthew
Hale, Case Hand, Hale,
& Swartz, Albany")
telling him by what
train you will arrive,
- so that he may engage
rooms for you at the 
Delaware House. - Or
arriving at Albany, if& are of the best girls in
the world.) - & will do 
all sorts to terrible things
     With infinite love
       Your cousin
          Rob.S. Hale
To Miss Clara Barton,

Monday Morning
22 May
This is Vira's birthday 
- only 49 - & as young &
handsome as if it
were 29. She tells me
she will write a line.
All send love, - Vira,
Abby, Harry, Mary,
Lizzie & Mattie.
               RSH


4)
with cousin Vira to come
on with you, & make
a visit. I don't know
but the financial question
may be a troublesome
one with Vira,
- if so, ask her on a matter
of form to come with
you to take care of you
- your paying all her
expenses here & back. -
That is a capital idea. -
You can do it so well
of course, because you
want her, - & I will
most gladly refund the
expenses to you, - which
of course I couldn't offer
to do to her, - & of course
she must know nothing 
of this. We willget a nice visit out of
her & cost her nothing.
She can find somebody
to run that post office
for a few weeks! Isn't
the proposition a sound
one?
     In any event don't fail
to write to Matt & let
him know when you
will be in Albany. He
never fails to inquire
after you, & I know
how glad he will be to 
see you. Even if you
should commit the
enormous folly of going
to Dansville instead of
Elisabethtown - which
you must not do - still
write Matt & let him


know by what train you
will arrive & ask him
to engage rooms for you.
I write him today that
you will do so - so you
are committed.
     Now my darling
cousin this is my
ultimatum, - & a
fearful word it is.
If you don't come here
on this call, you & I
quarrel. I will expose
all I have of your fraud
on The French Relief Fund
to Clymer's committee
- will set all the blackmailers
after you worse
than they were after
Miss [South?] (- an old
friend of mine by the byLaw Offices of Hale, Smith & [Kellogg] Hale.
ELIZABETHTOWN, ESSEX CO., N. Y.

Robert S. Hale
Francis Asbury Smith
[crossed out]
Harry Hale.

                                              25 Sept. 1876.,
Dear Clara
     I have been absent
almost incessantly for last month
& so have failed to write you till now.
I shall not dare to joke you again
on so delicate a subject as the state of your
affections - past, present or future. -
You take me so very much in earnest.
Why won't you have that my "strong
[holt?]" is nonsense, - & that if I couldn't
write & talk nonsense a good share
of the time written conversation
[in?] correspondence would have any
charms for me?
     I have but a few minutes to write
this morning, as I am off again to
trial of a [batch?] of causes.
     First about money matters. - Did
I advise you that I drew in your
name in Brown Brothers & Co. in favor
of James F. Babcock for $28.50. to pay taxes on
[your?] land, - date of ch. 26 Aug. / 76. - The
taxes are paid & I have rect. for same.
Note this check in your acct. with
Brown Brothers & Co. - the same as if drawn
by yourself. I have statement
of acct. from [B.B.] & Co. down to 5 Aug. lastmaking them due from you to them
$101.64. - This includes the $100. which you
drew in July. - but to it is to be added
my ch. of $28.50 above. I think
your Nov. [express?] will bring you
all up square & perhaps enable you
to run on till spring without further
with drawing. But you are at liberty
to overdraw in B.B. & Co. whenever you
find it necessary or convenient.
     Have you heard anything
from or of Gleason? If so let me
know just what he says & what
he proposes to do & where he is.
Write me immediately whether
you hear anything or not.
     I fail to get advices from [Conn.?]
as I expected, & my present impression 
is that I will go there
next week & look up the state of
things at Danielsonville for myself.
I believe your debt is collectable
out of the property there & shall
not hesitate if [I] find it so, to


attach vigorously.
     Is Mrs. Shepard still with you!
If so, apologies to her for my dilatoriness 
in acknowledging her very
welcome letter.
     I can do nothing at Washn 
- am not in accord with
the powers that be, &  would
not ask a favor from them
to save my grandmother from
hunger. And if I did it would
be of no use.
     Vina & all of us very well
& all send much love.
     Lizzie goes off to school
this Fall, - for the first time.
     In great haste - but
with much love,
        Your cousin
               Rob : S. Hale

To Clara Barton,[*(Gleason)*]
Copy of reply to "nonsense" section
About the nonsense. - Why my dear coz. I have learned
your "strong holt," and I like it, too, I do, and I wouldn't 
say a word, if I could always sift the stuff properly
but its so "thunderingly "mixed" once in a while that I
cant. You jest write me a letter sometime all
nonsense, not a word of business it it, and see if I
dont find a way to take it. It must be the mixin
that bothers me - you see the matter is, Im a hardened old  tipler
and "take mine straight"

Ansd by card
last letter crossed
Hale
Return to HALE, SM
ELIZABETHTOWN, E
If not delivered wiLaw Offices of 
HALE, SMITH & HALE,
ELIZABETHTOWN, ESSEX CO., N. Y,

[Robe]RT S. HALE,
[FRAN?]CIS A. SMITH,
[HARR]Y Hale.

30 April / 77.,
Dear Clara
     The enclosed letter 
came last week in my 
absence. Vira thought you 
might be on your way here
and so kept it a few days, - but
we have concluded it is somebody
who doesn't know where
you are and has faith in
me - so I forward it.
     It is a great while since
I heard from you. How do
you do? Pray write and
tell us all about yourself.
     I have been very busy
since New Years, absent
from home almost every
week but always home
for Sunday. Have been verynegligent in not writing 
you - but have had very
little to say--We are
all at home except Lizzie
who has just gone back to
school at Farmington
after a fortnight vacation
at home. All are well
+ all send much love.
Remember this summer 
is to be largely open
with us. No excuses will
avail [you/us/me?] - for I am
sure it is the best
place in the world for
us to be. We want
you should come by the
first of June, proposed
to stay indefinitely. I will
go for you and bring you
from Dansville in triumphant
procession.
With much love
from cousin
R.S. Hale,
To Miss Clara Barton

requires no answer
he is coming
Return to HALE, SMITH
ELIZABETHTOWN, Essex
If not delivered wi
Law Offices of
Hale, Smith & Hale,
Elizabethtown, Essex Co., N.Y.
S. Hale
S A. Smith,
Hale.
6 January /78
My dear Cousin Clara
Your very welcome letter
came in our [?] in the
midst of our Christmas  [?]
-- and just as we returned
from my brother Matt's
wedding which came off on
the 27th at Westport 10 miles
from here.  He married the
Eldest daughter of Col. Frank
Lee who commanded one
of the Boston Regiments for a
[span?] during the war. She
and his father & mother, brothers 
& sisters and all our most
intimate friends, and we are
all delighted with the match. 
She is one of the loveliest and
most admirable of women
[*Thanks for the New Year card.*]Answered Jany 24, 1881
Hon. Robt. S. Hale

and I know will make Matt
the happiest of men.
They first met at our
house at Christmas dinner
a year ago--and this year
we had them all here at
our Christmas dinner again
--the same party with but
on a two changes--a nice 
little party of 20.
But I didn't go for to thank
for to write you a letter
--only to say that we are
all--all at home--and
all happy.  I go to Albany
Tuesday with Lizzie & Matty
on their way back to school
at Farmington--expect to
be detained for about a week
in Albany & New York & to
bring up in Washington
about Monday or Tuesday
of next week--(13th or 14th)
and shall I trust find you
well & have much to tell you.
With love without limit
from us all.  [?]
Loving cousin
Robert--
To  Clara Barton


no better, went on to Washington
and stayed there
a fortnight growing worse
all the while, then determined
to wheel and put
for home which we did 
accordingly.  We got home
last February, and I have
not since been half a
dozen miles from home
nor hardly set foot in another
home than my own.
In the Spring the doctors
decided that I had Bright's
disease in a bad form and
could not get well,--they
would not promise me
more than a week's lease
of life.  I accepted this information
and soon set my
house in order ready to
sling my knapsack and
march at tap of drum
and rally with no thought


                           Elizabethtown N.Y.
                           20 Jan. 1881.
My dear Clara
               It is a long time
since I have heard from
you till last evenings
mail brought us a photograph
of a most charming
young lady who from her
strong resemblance to
yourself we suspect of
being probably your niece.
At any rate we treasure
it carefully on your account.
     For the last two years I
have been suffering almost
constantly from a long &
painful illness much of 
the time with no hope
of recovery and often so near
the edge of the grave that
a very slight boost would
have helped me in.  Itwas a new experience to me
after the robust health I
had always enjoyed and know
that you still linger and
more terrible illness was
to you.
I was taken two years
ago this month while
attending court at Plattsburgh,
and was compelled
to learn my place in the
furrow-a cause half
tried-and get home.
The doctors said it was a 
general weakening down
from over work-more
likely from over-eating and
enjoyment of the good
things of life generally.
My digestive organs seemed
entirely paralyzed, and
I kept my bed for & some months
much of the time delirious

or unconscious, and 
given up by everybody
except my blessed wife
who seemed to have sworn
a great oath that I should 
get well. - "By ___ he shall
march." (Uncle Toby.)
In the summer I
got better, so that I rode
out about home-worked
a little (malgre the Doctors)
in my office, and began
to think of getting well.
In the Fall Vina & I
went over to Boston and
stayed a few days, stopping
for some visits in VT.
In January, the doctors
advising me to get to a 
milder climate Vina & I
started south.  Stopped a
week in New York and
found I was grieving3.
and everything to tempt 
am in health to be out
and enjoy it. But I dread
the cold and hardly get
 out at all. If we ever
get warm weather and I 
continue to improve I may 
possibly get away from
home again, but certainly
not before next June.
     Do you know that my
brother Matt after living 
a widower ten years and
more married again three
years ago and is the father
of two lovely little girls?
His wife was an old friend 
of ours - indeed he met her
first here,- a dau. of Col.
Frank Lee of Boston, who 
was chief of staff to Gov.
Andrew, and afterwards
Col. of the Mass. 44th. She 
is cousin to all the Lees and
Jacksons and Higginsonsand Cabots and in [?] of
most of the nobby people of
Boston, and to cap the whole
is a royal lovely and domestic
woman of rare intelligence.
     Now Clara won't you come
and see us next summer
and spend with us just as 
many months as you can
be contented? We all so
you to do it. The girls say
- one and all - you must
come - and their mother 
and myself say ditto. There
is no reason why you should
not, and every reason why 
you should.
     Does anybody look after
your Iowa land and pay
taxes? Or have you sold it?
I haven't meddled with it
for the last two years, and
I don't know but longer. If it
hasn't been looked to it ought
to be without delay.
     Vira and all the household
join with the poor vagabond
who writes this in a world of
love & kisses to you. - God bless
you my dear Clara.
                    Your cousin
                            Rob: S. Hale, 
Miss Clara Barton, 


do you do? and where do
you do it?
     Write us a long letter
with full account of yourself.
Tell how you get on
in health. If I could for
a moment believe that the
picture aforesaid was taken
for you, I should know at once
that your past sickness was
all a sham,- that you had
never known an hour's 
ill health, and that your
achievements in stopping the
running of time that old
testament Joshua all
hollow. - But I know it
is not so as to your sickness
at least - so of course
it follows the picture is of
the niece. - 
     We are having beautiful
winter weather, the mercury
ranging from 0 to
25 below,- sleighing fine.


2
but that I must go very
soon. - But Vina was as
resolute as ever and nothing
could make her 
give up.  After living 
months in this way
I began very slowly to gain
and for the last six months
have been slowly gaining 
strength, getting back my
old look and feeling more
like myself. The doctors
say I am free from kidney
disease and may
reasonably hope with care
for some years yet of tolerable
life. But an old
functional trouble of my
heart - weakness of action
- keeps me good for nothing 
or nearly so - I am very 
weak, suffer a great
deal from rheumatic
pain, and know that myhold on life is a very precarious
one.  I have entirely abandoned
my profession, the doctors
telling me it was the first
condition of possible recovery.
Harry runs the office alone
and does it splendidly.
I amuse myself mainly
with genealogy - and am
leisurely getting up a [Hale?]
family history, though I
never knew but one of
the family that was
good for much, and her
name was Vina Stone.
     There! - six pages of [musings?]
self. - self. - self.  I promise
never to mention this fellow
to you again.
     All my children are
at home - all unmarried
and likely to remain so
- all well and happy, and

a pretty good lot - their mama,
[our?] babies.
     Vina is as well as anybody
can be after going through
the terrible trials she has
had for the last two years, 
for they have been much
more terrible to her than 
to her husband.  She looks
almost as spring and blooming
and charming as
the niece when picture you
sent us.
     And now my dear blessed
woman why have you kept
[silence?] towards us all so
long?  We must have known
that nothing but sickness
or death could keep me so
long from writing to you.
But you forget all about
us evidently.
     How do you do, - what