CLARA BARTON FAMILY PAPERS King, George & Edith Riccius Correspondence, Mar. 1911-June 1957 and undated[*[Mar 18 1911]*] My Dear Doctor Hubbel, If Auntie is able will you hand her the enclosed or at least tell her we are all thinking of her & so glad to learn she is recovering & growing strong & well. I haven't dared to writebefore & perhaps ought not to now, but you'll know what is best & if she isn't able to read my scratch just destroy it and tell her we all send our dear love. We shall be so glad to hear a line from you some time when you can find a minute. Affectionately Edith R. King. much longer. Saidee may visit me out there in the course of a month or so and if that doesn't seem wise I shall return to her, so she won't become too lonely. I wish we were so situated that we could all live together. Perhaps someday we may be able to do so. No more now to tire you, but remember, we are thinking of you constantly and you have the dearest love & best wishes of all of us. Affectionately Edith. March 18, 1911. My Dear Auntie - We have all wanted so much to write you, but thought it best not to until we were sure you were well and strong enough to be troubled with our chatter. You do not know how anxious we all were to be with you while you were so ill, but it was best to have those who knew what to do, about you, and we are just delighted to know youare improving and gaining strength so rapidly. Uncle Steve told us of the wonderful fight you made for your dear life, and of your courage and determination. What a wonderful, precious Auntie you are, and how very thankful we are to know you are getting well again and will soon, we hope, be back here with us. There are so many things to tell you when you are well, and we want you to come here and stay with us just as long as you can. Saidee is doing splendidly and will make a fine housekeeper. She woks as tho' she always had done it, and we are getting along as well as can be. I shall soon be obliged to return to Pittsburg, for George will forget he is married if I remain away all at home are well & getting rested somewhat after the long vigil I occasioned. I am gaining, slowly, & I hope surely, & am up & about but haven't been out yet. This may reach your hand & may not but I'll risk it, anyway. We all send love and hope you'll keep well & grow strong all thru the winter. Take care of yourself & don't catch cold. Affectionately, Edith 9 Congress St Worcester Mass. [Edith Riccius King] [Nov. 12, 1911] My Dear Aunt Clara -- Your friend, Mrs. Schloss, wrote to Mother inquiring for you, a few days ago. Saidee was very busy so I answered the inquiry, stating that our dear Mother had passed away and that our knowledge of your condition just at present was very meagre, but we had heard you reached Glen Echo in good spirits & were much improved in health. Since then we have heard nothing but we sincerely hope you aregaining each day and getting strong and well fast. The enclosed card came yesterday from your friends, who, you see, are eager to learn how you are, and I thought it might please you to know they had you in mind so frequently & seem so glad to hear you are improved in health I know it gives me great pleasure to know my friends inquire for me, & I dare say you will be pleased to know yours have you in mind constantly. Mrs. Alice Westfall also wrote me, inquiring how you were, & I wrote her just as I did Mrs. Schloss. It's a shame we couldn't have seen each other this summer but you were too ill to be seen each time I called & then I have been very near death's door myself for the past six weeks, so it couldn't be helped, could it, dear? small pox cx. > 22 Euclid Ave Beloit Wis Nov 10 -- 1921 My dear Edith: (Riccius, King) You splendid little "Pal" I going to try and answer full of 5 do love to complain. I wish you could send me a glimpse of yourself & husband -- haven't you even a camera snap for me dear? I do think no one would be happier over a picture of you than myself and hope some time to possess one. Now see here my child you've a wrong impression of me -- I'm not a bit as you imagine -- I'm tall, angular -- lean and really have the appearance of a typical old maid! The only thing in my favor I do so love a joke and can always find the funny side of things -- and always try to find the sunshine as I go along. I've a lot to be thankful for even If I do growl occasionally -- and now sweet heart I want you to know that I feel very grateful indeed to you for sending me that glorious letter of yours. All2 just seems all nerves and the agony is intense - medicine never helps and the only one to relieve me at all is the chiropractor - He came three times one day and then once again each day : but I am better now and aside from a wretched back ache I 6 those clippings and those splendid notes of your sisters - Oh! What a feast I have had and I've read it all over and over and if you only realized how proud and puffed up I was over my dear Mothers name in connection with the wonderful Miss Clara Barton in the cause of humanity - Yes they two nursed all through the small pox and I've heard mother tell how your Aunt Miss B- carried a lantern and led the way out in the midnight darkness while this Mr Clemence carried the casket of one of his children and buried it. Yes it was a dreadful time and your Aunt & my Mother stuck to this post until both of them came down with varioloid - Oh! My Mother has told me so much of your Aunts ambitions and how as 7 a young girl she was determined to visit Europe - and how when it came was so different - Oh! how my Mother loved those old days and I was just fed on it and no one loved those memories than I did. Why my Edith if I wore a vest you'd have seen me strutting around here with my thums in the arm holes and twirling my fingers with such a smug & satisfied expression upon my face - as much as to say - Yes it was my own splendid Mother this speaks of - that was so intimately connected with the worlds greatest Heroine Miss Clara Barton - Yes dear your letter has made me very happy and I thank you so much for it. My old Grandpa Moffit would8 talk for hours about Miss B- and he was so proud to receive a letter from her - What a splendid time you had this last summer on your vacation and I am so glad you had the chance - I'm not blaming your sister Sadie for loving to ride in Autos - I do too and do not get many chances : but when I do I can tell you I enjoy it to its fullest extent. When you wrote last you spoke of moving but I see your address is the same so you must have staid on at the same place - I had thought of you a lot but dared not write again as I was not sure of your address so you see little 'Pal' you've just got to write me once in a while to keep me posted as to your where abouts. oh! What a vacation time you 9 had and you write so clearly & so interestingly that I could just enjoy your whole trip with you and enjoy even your picnics - I do feel as you say also - very much acquainted with you and I am very grateful and thankful for your lovely friendship and comforting sunny, cheery letters - they are a great boon and comfort to me in my lonely life and bring such a warm comfy feeling around the heart regions and I hope you wont wait a year again before you write dear. Yes it is my own Mother that was closely associated with Miss Barton and not my Grandma - I never knew a Grandmother on either side of my family & only one Grandpa - Moffit- all were10 dead and gone before I came into the world. I too love the woods and out of doors and would just like to stay in the big out doors all the summer long, and I have a pleasant yard and nice shade trees so I do stay out side more than inside. Now my love I believe I have written you quite a letter for this time and do so hope you will write me again ere long - I am sending you the notes of your sisters speech and thank you so much for the privilege of reading those interesting items & you are very proud of Miss Sadie I know and I am too for she has written a wonderful paper and is certainly a gifted lady - Now good bye dear girl and many grateful thanks much love always most sincerely and best wishes to you my Edith & your dear ones all forever yours Nella Gammon[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] [1934?] Dixie dearest- Am sending you the very little I've been able to add to that I had already written about Aunt Clara - and hope to accomplish more - in fact, finish the job after Christmas. Sorry I didn't get it all done but the old nurse doesn't always work when I am not busy and when I have the inclination to write there's always something else that must be done - So please have patience & I may get it done some day. Have a page or so to add to the other story I sent for your birthday & will send more as I get around to write. Merry Christmas and all my love- Edith - overI wonder whether I have been at all accurate as to the lay-out of the Chase Ave. Webster house. I am afraid I haven't placed doors & windows as they were. So many years since we lived there and only a short time we were in that house - it didn't make as much of an imprint on my mind as the other houses in which we lived. I shall presently write about our year in Webster - then go on to Worcester - the Branch St. house.[*33 Clara Barton Schloss*] CANTON, OHIO Nov 9 4-PM THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS ONLY Mrs. Edith Riccius King 9 Congress Street, Worcester, Mass. __________________________________________________________ [*MONCTON N.B. 1957 CANADA*] June 19th BR-7 Scenery at Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia. Dear Edith & George: We are on our way to New Brunswick now on the drive south in Cape Breton found Port Hastings where our great grandfather Dr. Thomas Willmot practiced medicine for so many years & where Bungie was in the Cable office & married my grandmother Joice. Found an elderly Postmaster & a dear old couple who knew all about the Willmots & showed us their "apple trees"! I really felt I had come home! So much love to you, Joyce. PUB. BY THE BOOK ROOM., LTD, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. address Mr. & Mrs. George E. King Mt. Vernon Maine U.S.A. _________________________________________________________ HHM-17 Ruins of Louisbourg Fortress, Nova Scotia, destroyed by the British in 1760. COLOR PHOTO BY NOVA SCOTIA BUREAU OF INFORMATION Dear George & Edith: On the way to our fishing camp we stopped to visit this historic fortress of a bygone age. Such a fine museum there - we met the artist who has arranged the exhibition - Also went to Alexander Graham Bell Museum which is amazing! Love, Joyce PUBLISHED BY H.H. MARSHALL, LTD., HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA [*MARGAREE PM JUNE 17 57 N.S.*] address Mr. & Mrs. George E. King Mt. Vernon Maine ________________________________________________________ The Margaree Valley, well known in song and story, is one of the most beautiful valleys in existence. Delicate pastels in green and copper in Spring; rich green and blue tones of peacefulness and tranquility in Summer; red, gold, and green of royal coloring in Autumn; and the spruce greens on white in Winter. This is a picture from our camp on the Margaree River - a beautiful spot. Too early for good fishing. Not many tourist here yet. "Having a swell time wish you was here." Dwight Color Picture by Paul Pix Printed in the U.S.A. Published by Paul Pix, Margaree Harbor, Nova Scotia [*MARGAREE PM JUNE 17 57 N.S.*] Mr. & Mrs. Geo. E. King, Mount Vernon Maine 13091Metropolitan Music Studio (German Conservatory of Music) For the Art of Pianoforte Playing Harmony, Composition, Etc. School of German and French Languages. Prof. Herbert Schloss, Director and Mgr. 417 North McKinley Avenue. CANTON, OHIO. Stark Phone A 1067 Dear Mrs King! Your card received and we regret to learn of your dear Mother's death; we did not know anything of it. - Glad though to hear that your good aunt and our dear friend - C.B. - is all right again.. To pickup and go right down to Glen Echo is just like her! Hope you will hear & transmit to us the good news that she is continuously growing stronger. - If you ever come out this way, do not fail to visit us. - I will write to Miss Barton today; we always remind our mother of the Franco German war 1870/71 - where she officiated on behalf of the Red X & wherein I served too. With love again - Yours sincerely, H. & C.B.S.