CLARA BARTON FAMILY PAPERS Vassall, Vester and Sarah Barton Oct. 1855 - May 1889 and undated[*NO TH OXFORD Stephen Barton Jr OCT 8 MASS*] [*FREE*] [*13 40 ---- 5,20 *] Mrs S.B. Vassall Washington DC North Oxford Oct 7th 1855 My Dear Sisters You will observe that I keep writing to you and hoping that when these hasty scrawls amount to enough for an answer that one or both of you will answer me or have I.S.V. if you are both busy We do not hear from Mama often but two very brief letters since Father left by which I learn that he is well and enjoys his visit but Julia and little Mary have both been sick but was better when she last wrote I have not seen or heard from Sister or Ben since I wrote last Lizzy says she should like to drop in and spend an evening with you and should suppose she might as she can go and come from N. York free but she has not yet decided to come - Tell Irving to write me at once from your affectionate Brother StephenCross Reference From: Sarah B Vassall To: Clara Barton Date: Apr. 11 1860 See Family Papers Vassal, Bernard B. Letter From Clara Barton, Apr 20, 1860Sarah B. V[assall] all answered & more [*once more remember me to cous Almira Your Affct Sister Sarah Vassall*] Washington Dec 10th/67 Tuesday PM Dear Sister Clara I have been hurrying all the morning to get time to write you, so that it might reach you at Cousin Sessions, And you must tell them that I have not forgotten them and should be ever so glad to see them and hope that they may avail themselves of some opportunity to come and see us And dont you think, just as I had set the table up to the window and got out my writing materials the post man brought me you letter mailed at Peoria and Dated Nov the 6th but I knew that wasor mistake, I am so glad to hear that your health is so good and do try and take care of your self I well know it is easier said than done when one is pitching sound from post to pillar and so you saw Mrs Barnes I should like to see her much, I wrote a long letter and posted it to Monmouth and expect that you will get it tonight perhaps sending it now it is just 3 oclock Aunt Kitty and all came in and hindered me some, I hurt to say or write that they lost prob eight dollars more for there lunch and give them a lunch I have had no letters from Muss since I wrote you Rosa wished for me yesterday and after she got through we went down to your house and put the fruit in the cupboard wrapped every bottle in purple and covered it up and shut the door yes and put the ink bottles on in the coffee pot and built up a fire it was awful cold Sunday and I worried about them I meant to have gone down there on Saturday but Rosa did not call until she returned and it was late Mr Shaw has moved some of his things into your room but Rosa and I moved them away from the Stove so as to build the fire we tried to find him but it seems that he was down cellar getting it ready to put your fruit down there as he has fears of its freezing but we held a council and con- cluded to have Rosa keep your Stove in readiness to touchSweeny's Hotel, New York, 186 5 to Rosa "That's what he is in half a mind to go down to Mifs Cluee and go to live What does he spoken about? "Of course he has me to board and has spent 8 dollars yes more that that and I knows I cant east eight dollars more this I told him he be s'ory some day when he waked up and found himself cooking his own vistiuels and washing his shirt" Of course he is an old cross Neggro but he dare not abuse her only with his tongue I cant get a corn poppee of any size hold abot a pint shall see what I can doWashington is a great place to make nothing It has been cloudy all day so dark I can but just see to write of course it is warmer than it was yester day look like rain now don't think I am much sick I went [?] no Saturday evening to hear Hacket as Falstaff in King Henry IV it was rich well I must change my dress and run and put this into the letter box and Shaw says that he allows seven days for any thing to reach you write often as you joy always it was so nice to get such an unexpected letter from you Your Sister Sarah I shall expect to see you by the 17th or 18th of this month let us know and Rosa will have the fire kindled and the house in order and I will have some pop corn ready Yours ever Sarah B Vassall*] Washington Jan 5th/68 Sunday PM [*34 Sally Vassall*] Dear Sister Clara I think that I have received three letters from you since I wrote you the last one received was dated at Norwalk, I think you did not receive my letter directed to you at Monmouth as you make no mention of it I have not a bit of news to tell you only the all engrossing thoug ht that "I expect you at home about the middle of the month" and if you should not come Rosa and I would have to have another cry Rosa has not been very well, tho' she has been down to take care of Mr Burgess room untill NewVert send his love yours she was in said that she had given it up but she was in yesterday and said that they all made such an out cry about her leaving and Mr Shaw among the list begd that she would come until you came home and said he would write you about it. I have not heard from Ber and Fannie for two weeks, I invited Mr Fitts people to come and see us this winter but they feel too poor to come [Pond?] has failed and so Uncle John will lose his debt I invited Nancy too but she dont say why she dont come. One of our Maine cousins has made us a visit William Bartons oldest daughter who is teaching in NJ came to spend Christmas with Mattie we went over there to dinner and celebrated the anniversary of the Wedding the baby did not like the proseeding and made a rump us as usual. the cousin spent some time with us and I showed her over Washington and this took us to Theater and Opera which was all new to her I received the circular I don't know whether any of the pupils have said any ill of you lectures or not but the notices in the circular are certainly very flattering I don't know whether to believe it all or not wish I could hear it and then judge for myself Mattie had had a letter from Vin she did not speak of herJan 15th 1868 health so Mattie said so I suppose she must be better than when you were there Jules had a letter from [Dore?] he was in Worcester O Jules and some one else have gone into the Commission business ( I guess it is) any way it is selling by sample tho he re tains his office yet. Col Tufts is and has been in the city for some time. I have attempted once or twice to tell you that Mattie has a cough and I think she is looking poorly the baby worries her and Jules wishes to put it out to nurse. I have so much that I could say to you and ask you about if you were here which will not pay to write and so I will wait till you come home and this wont we do up the talking now come home as soon as you can and dont get kilt I aint in the Surgeon General's Office, but my ruled paper gave out and I took this from hubby trunk. 34 Sally Vassall Surgeon General's Office Washington City, D.C. March 4th 1868 Dear Sister Clara I received your little letter this morning was waiting anxiously to hear that you got safely to Pittsburg in spite of the storm it seems that North and East they are awfully blocked up with snow it is pleas ant here today but it was dreadful cold yesterday it snowed harder than at any time before this winter I thought of you all day Miss Thompson came Thursday morning did not stop here "my sister" it would be so much trouble to stop and look after [?]but wanted to ever so much but she seems to be enjoying "Impeachment" hugely goes early in the morning and stays till night. Mattie and baby come Sunday P.M. just before it began to storm they had got to move Monday or had given up there house and so came to stop with me per invitation have gone into Ruperts house it was awful dirty and Violet renovated it and I would not let Mattie go once there till to night she had a pleurisy pain Monday night and I mustered her and she promised to behave when she got home says that she has had a great deal of pain in her breast this winter I had a letter from Bee the day you left he says that he did not mean to write a scary letter had received both your and mine he says that his [cut??th?] is better don't think that Barton agrees with him shall come to Washington when he is through with his business but "can't proceed with his bread and butter" and not to make myself sick fretting about him for he is taking good care of himself and Fannie is looking right smart after him. So I'll try and think he is doing well altho it is against my judgment. Rosa came down Monday and I fixed her work sent here for thread and needles fine and today she came down to report progress I think her work look nice so far as I could see and so did Mattie. I tore up all the ruffling except the last piece[*Ans Mar 15/ 18 what would make two strips half as wide as those I tore off Now if I got more how wide [shld] should I lure them I forgot for a certainty what you told me Rosa waited till your letter came and then I will tell Miss Clara that I eats my intire cake and hurn and blesses her all the time Rosa says that Mrs Sherman sent her your letter so that she might tell me "O she had a grand time in New York moving hurn Kershes and shooting" and now I must write about that which is nearest my heart but farthest from my hand Popcorn it is almost gone tomorrow and next day we'll finish it All regrets and so do I she made Sixty cents today and fifty yesterday but it was too cold to go good and perhaps tomorrow or next day it may be too warm Miss Simpson when we will bring it had kept up such a clutter as she has since a common cold this we should got now dont freeze to death and take care of yourself and write often Your sister Sarah B Vassall Washington March 20th / 68 Evening [*my book day*] [*Sally 34 Vassall*] Dear sister Clara I received your good long letter yesterday and was so glad to hear that you was better of your cold for Mrs Shaw read me your letter and I was fearful that you had got the pneumonia or something worse if possible but I do think that you had a narrow escape for travel to New York and speaking must full agrivate a cold I meant to have carried your letter to Shaw today but it has snowed all day and melted about as fast as it came I will endeavor to send most of it to him tomorrow I have not heard from Bee and Fannie since I wrote you but the Rev. Moses Ballou preached last Sabbath and will preach next we attended the social party last evening Mr Bullon inquired for you said that he saw you in Ken Haven and wished to be remembered to you regretted much you were not at home or Sutton that he could not see you but was glad you was at your duty Mrs Sherwood [*of yourself I expect that this will reach you at Chicago by the 25 and if you do not come directly home you must write me again and if you get sick let me know it at once Mrs Green says tell you to come back and attend to the impeachment it is getting late and so I will say good night Yours as ever Sarah B Vassall*]said she had received a letter from Mrs A. C Thomas who had just returned from N York and wished to be remembered to you Dr Brooks has written to the Friends of Universalism here to select a building lot preparatory to erecting a Church and the Denomination will build it and it is to be sustained by missionary enterprise so the male portion a good part of them at least retired upstairs to discuss the subject Many of the ladies inquired where you were at and wished to be remembered to you Rosa came in yesterday and I send your letter and if it had not rained or snowed, she was to have brought the ruffling down (which is all hemed) and I was going to [?] to get some more She had your linen dress and the comfortable cover in the basket looking ever so nice and said every thing was clean now She was complaining of her head's acheing and said that she had not been well for a week Aunt Kitty was here wished me to say to you that that conscription you sent for her helped her wonderfully she is better in course Now Clara dont tempt the constitution too much but take care [Mar. 20 1868] Saturday 3 o'clock PM Rosa has been here says tell Miss Clara that I have been five time for that cup of milk and the [?] gave away and none of the [?] kno ws nothing about it. I am going down to [?] with your letter and to mail this SBV[1868] Dear brother Vester I had an errand to do to you this morning but not expecting to see you I had given it into Miss Kupps hands to do for me, and I thought it not best to withdraw it, especially as I did not want to talk business with you at our last little interview, if it had already waited a year almost, it could still wait a day or two more. As you remember I could never get a price from you for the things you had let me have. I had to get them appraised and asked to have the wholesale price of new articles of a similar quality set against each article which our village merchant said he did I found some articles which you did not put on the list and added them to be appraised with the others. There are otherforms and services which I cannot even expect to repay except in grateful memory, but fearing the appraisal may not have been enough I enclose Forty Dollars ($40.) with my thanks for all your kindness and my best wishes for all your future. Your affectionate sister Clara Barton[ * Rosa came to see me in the [?] the next day after I got home and she said that she was coming next Sunday she wanted to send some message to Miss Clara she has had her teeth [?] one [?] it was going to [?] her [?] come out today They have troub led her greatly is going to ha ve a new set it is a [?] pretty dark and I must say good by from you Affect sister Sarah B Vassall Washington Oct 7th 1869 Dear Sister Clara I received your letter dated at London ab out one week ago, and if you wrote one from Edenborough I have not received it I arrived home on Saturday the twenty fifth at 7 AM found her eating breakfast and Ellen has been keeping house all the while I was gone found everything in good order washing all done up and house clean and some thing to eat which gave me an opportunity to rest I know that you will be anxious to hear about my journey home Well we did not have a bit of the [?] storms and the weather was much more favor able than the passage out of cour se it was more tedious but thereI was better acquainted and that served to break the monotony of the voyage without beginning away back to first principles. I know that you will be interested to know what and who constituted over coming you remem -ber that you was introduced to a full proper lady a Mifs Ramsey she proved to be a London Milliner going to Since Edward's Island to act as head milliner and took the place of Mifs West in the Doctors affection not so affected by more forward sometimes. I thought that she sister disgusted him any how he and the Capt seemed as in the age of Miss West to share her affections equally tho earnestly I think that she was a good hearted girl but like a horse just let out of a cargo then there was a Russ Johnson a Massachusetts school teacher been teaching in St John Hovis beaten for [?] you're a aprentice of Kerr day educated a Soldier had been to Essex London and Scotland went over with a minister and his wife was returning with a mr. Kerr merchant of St John a Scotchman by birth and his younger brother who was leaving home to try his fortune a very promising young man reminded me of old Mr Dunbar, then a Mr MC. Lean a highland Scotchman keen on a brew and the Capt brother in law Gilchrist the three lads were going to clerking it in St John then there was a Mifs Grant from Hulifore been spending a year in England and Scotland among relations had two brothers who were themselves ministers one in Hulifore and one she accompanied to England in his way to Entice as Chaplain of some key. she reminded me of Luvos Bottom by very much and nearly as alot but full of life then there was a song Caucasian who came in to Miss you going to Montreale got abot is much appreciated with love as we did withNorwegian lady she was an invalid Mrs Johnson was a [??tteen] of propriety but good sense [sound] piety in fact just such a girl as no american could be as [harmed] of all the offers seems to think that she was just right of course we had a gay old time especially at table sometimes I thought that all decorum was thrown to the dogs the Capt and Doctor seemed to conspire against [H???] and Graham by appropriating [??] the most crackers and milk to themselves in course they would creep under and up the sides of the table and make a sudden sound and despoil then of their plunder sometimes to the up setting of some of the dishes. We were two days and a half at Halifax unloading. I traveled around some but my feet were sore I had them so when I turned out Scotland that they had not got well then we were ninety two days at St. Johnson we were all invited to Mrs. [H??rs] to tea and a splendid 5 time we had found Mrs. [Here] with three babies the last born while he was away less than a month old an [elegant] live [until] nine oclock and first at eleven all kinds of games one I never even played before which pleases me much just at this minute I can't recall the name but if it comes to me I will write it O yes I forgot one of the most interesting of the passengers it was Doctor Holden a young man who had been in Scotland to be [admitted] and was returning home to St. Johnson he too came down to the boat with his sister and invited me to [gordons] and stay all night so as to get a good nights rest but it was some way off and besides I had promised to go to [Heres?] he says that he is coming to Washington within a year and going West to settle is acquainted with a young Dr. Johnson whom he seen in Scotland and will call on me My health is right good except too cold when I get on board the boat but this is improving I think. the next morning after our visit they all came down to the boat to bid us good bye and waved us away. Miss Johnson came in a carriage and the Doctor and Capt went to see her off and one got up on one side and the other got up on the other to kiss her and kept it up till she cried out O dear right here before every body I know Will the pilot meet us Thursday morning at Six he came out on an outward bound vessell brought New York papers but we did not get into New York until ten o'clock Thursday night late at quarantine morning at eight steamed up to the wharf and the Brice next to the Custom House but no asked her permit had come at twelve and served dinner the Capt was not at there and Brice did not ask the Custom House offerings to eat which was the custom sometimes and after dinner they come to the door of the saloon to see if it was ready and Dorr told them it was all gone and they went off in a huff met Brice and he come and joined Dorr, Dorr was mad and told Brice that it was not "my business to see that Dinner was on the table and not to invite people to eat" they quarreled some Dorr swore and the Capt came down and told Dorr to say no more Brice had quarreled with him once before because Dorr would not go on deck to hunt up a pack of cards in fact I came to the conclusion that Brice was mad he told me that he had trounsed his little boy three years old so hard that he avoided sitting in the room with him nor look nor speak to him. I advised him to go home and make peace with his boy if he ever wished to have any control over him he said that he was a dreadful stubborn disposition child. I told him that his boy had got just the disposition which he has given him but Mr Brice and Miss Grant played Whist against Mrs Kerrand myself and I liked him for that but he thrust up at Willie and I protested that he did what Burd told him to do Well at two o clock I got Burd started to go to Mr Masons and stoped and spoke with the Customs House Officer but they said they had not no "Permit" found Mr Mason and he was so glad that I was safe home he has some mis givings, if any thing should happen to the vessel he had advised you to go in it said that he would come down to the boat and make arrangements to get me on the [?] if I must go said his wife was in New Hampton where his little baby was sick yet would be happy if I would stay all night the Burd and I went to find Mrs Vassal but she was not at home had been there that morning but had gone to see about lunch which had not come so I went back to the boat wrote her a note telling her where and how I left Mr Burd I am so anxious to hear how you are and how you got to your journeys. and Miss Millwell said that Mrs Hitz had been to Geneva to see you [?] [?] but you were not there. Mrs McLee little boy has his [?] appreciation and they do not think that he will recover every body send [?] love and good wishes now write when you can and especially if you are sick let me know - if we have how our first chamber published we have the water in the yard and when I came home I found that this had got his coal in so, of course it was at fiscal tact that we should stay Ellen is with me now and she is helping me get ready for for winter and I am getting her ready to go Aunt Kitty says visiting you sends to clean out I suppose.Sally Vassall Oct 69 Washington Oct 21st 1869 Thursday P.M. Dear sister Clara Yesterday I received a letter post-marked West Killingly but I knew the hand writing too well to be deceived and right glad was I to hear of your safe arrival at Genevin for I had begun to get real nervous about you had thought of you during the day and dreampt of you at nights and more than a week ago when I got out of bed I dressed myself ready for a call on Dr Thompson and before eight o'clock was there he received me very cordially and we compared notes. My letter was dated the 14th and his the 16th just as you were starting for Genevin I suppose and he said that you were well I told him of course you was for who ever heard you say that you were sick he laughed I asked him if you told him that they advised you to eat deviled ham he said that you did not, but said there was a vulgar idea in England that fat ham was good for biliousness he said that it was not the ham nor grease but the kreosote which was contained in the smoke, your eating the ham reminded me of my curing smoked herring one winter and used to eat one every night before going to bed and was sure of a good night's rest, but to the subject we talked fifteen or twenty minutes all about you and then I come & away he inviting me to call any time when convenient. The weather has been delightful here but it is raining today I have got my house all cleaned and Ellen and her Mother and Jo have gone a chestnuting today guess they will get wetEllen will leave soon Aunt Shelly says that she shall take her home if she cant get six dollars for her and put her to getting up wood we will see to it she will leave her as she does not steer straight. I had one letter from Bee and Fannie dated the 10th of Apl and Fannie said that she had got to give Bee the annual whipping before she went to be and Bee said the woman he lived with had tried to whip him but had not made out Sam and Amelia have buried there baby I have had no letters from the north except Bees and Fannies I see by the papers that they have had a fanciful freshet all through the east washing away houses and railroads Bee was awfully disappointed cause his mother did not come and see him and if I had his would [??ine] been [ve???] they are just as jealous of each other as two old cats even was There is a [?] a few woods from here the hacks are driving up in front of the house now it is a Mr. Youst [Thice] is no stiring news just now the papers have been full of the count of injuries as something like it concerning [Maryan] Bowen and J. H. Crane a gent [?] I could not afford the time to run it any the Republican has made a great deal of fun about Mrs. De Losk[???] and her baby at the Female Suffrage muckings. I see that a Miss Haskell is speaking in the temperance meetings & think it must be our Miss Haskell they speak highly of her as a speaker Lydia is in the Pattent Office I have been going to see her but have not got so far yet We have a new Secretary of War Gen Belknap the day I arrived in New York Gold have its ups and downs but is steady on now. O they talk of having the National Exposition here next year I believe it is you be home won't you5. ever since yesterday I have thought that I would not answer your letter till I received an answer to the quite long letter I sent you when I got home but after thinking it over I constructed to let you know that I had received your letter from Geneva and glad am I that you find Americans there for it must be irksome to be obligated to talk French all the time Please tell the Misses Golay that little Nettie is just as pretty and cunning as she can be and that they would love her if they were with her I will send you some papers there was something in the yesterdays Republican that I thought you would like to see but their is nothing in todays birthday has been in and hindered me about a house and the darkies keep coming so you see I am at home O I have not heard anything from Mr [?], wonder if he has got him in we Poison northernNo. 1 11 Orchards St Sun. 300 P.M. E1869P3 Dear Sister Clara, We'ned your letter of Thurs. last evening I hope you may soon recover now you have got where your friends will not make as many Calls as at a private House. we have been troubled some with Callers at night when it was a damage to Sally I have made a practice to be down about dark and get up from 10 to 1 as circumstances required and have not got a Chance to Sleep in the day time 4 [?] in a month and when I got woked between 7 & 10 by Calls it is rather unpleasant but such has been the case by those that ought to know better. Now be careful and get well soon write when you wish to have me hear from you and especially if you are not getting along well tell me if it is only two words so your bye for now. Your Affect. Sister Sarah B. Vassall Vest sends his best regards also Mr Sherwood wishes to be remembered especially and every body else send loveWe did receive the letter with the $20 Bill and it ought to have been acknowledged at the time please excuse me and last night I rec'd a line from Hon. R. Hale with a check of a $100, sent by your request which i am greatly obliged and will pay you when I get at liberty to get some money. I have not been at all troubled thus far nor neglected to get anything that Sally wished for nor shall not as long as she requires anything although she has craved & wanted any quantity of things that she since tasted and was of course a loss I have hoped and thought that you and Sally might meet in this world again but I fear now that it will not be so ordered She takes less & less nourishment and of count grows weaker and some nights don't sleep soundly any has had another a bad A.M. but I went to the Dr. and sent me to the drug store for a vial of Coral I gave her a tea spoon full and she has had a nap Since I have first been to help move her and she seem more easy for the present but God only knows how long it will last but I ought not to trouble with with now but hope I may see you sometimeThe weather is getting very warm here I moved the stove out of her room this morning into the middle room and by opening the door can keep the rooms just Such a temperment a we with Miss Holman is here and a first rate nurse Calm nothing gets her in a flutter but knows what she's about all the time which is very necessary with one in Sally's condition The neighbors are good Mrs. Converse & Mrs. [Dean?] come in and stay until mid night Mr. Russell and wife both came one night and stayed till 4 in the morning. Mrs. Barrett who lives in the third story is an excellent one to watch. Hamett Bary comes over and Mrs. [?] has been in the day time Page 5 and Constant Southworth wife came down and stayed ten days after Mrs Hewes left Bernard has always stayed Sat. night until last night he came but Nancy Fitts was here and sit up until 3 when I got up you may think I have abundant of help but when taken into account that since one has to be with her all the time it is hard enough on me. Now Clara I wish that I could have written a more hopeful letter but there is no use to try to deceive yourself I wish I could think otherwise and have it true but Clara a few short years and we all shall be gone[*{1869*}] To Dr P.M. I have just been in to see Sally and asked her if she had any thing in particular to say to you She said "how I suffer I appologize for not acknowledging the $ coi, and that she was glad you were gone to the Hospital and wished she was where with you" but I use close I don't think any one except you could read what I have written but that I shall hear a better report of you next time but tell me just as it is Yours as Ever Venton [*I should have to go back to best principles to sign my name I had worn out my next of kin you Sarah B Vassell*] Sister Sall - Ansd Paris June 15/71 Washington Nov 8th /70 As usual I have sat down to write you with no letter before me, only the little note which came from Killingly and the private note which came in the letter which you requested me to cir- culate Fannie has that yet I have not written or served much for several weeks have had a lung diff- iculty such as i had when north a sort of congestion but I can breath better today, I think that I am on the slow gain. I am not so vain as to suppose that I can tell you any thing about the war Saturday and Sunday an Armistice was reported yesterday and today it is all fight. It is perfectly awful to contemplate the suffering which has been engendered by this seemingly unnecessary war, yet God does all things right I look upon it was an adjunct necessary to bring about a great purpose that Women should look upon her slaughtered sons here from split children and desolute home to stimulate this to rise up and swear that the existence which God has given her shall not be degraded for the purpose of bringing human beings into the world to be maimed and sla -ughtered ravished and famished to qualify the ambition of the one -man forever. I believe that the whole woman-world is working up to the subject but enough of this. I have read all your letters on the record and in Grand Army Journal likewise an extract from Mrs Griffins like which appeared in the Chronicle Washington abounds in lectured courses this season The Grand Army course have given three, they opened With Windell Phillipps crowded of course then Mrs Joseph Ames her subject was "Women who work against women who talk" many had the impression that it would be against women suffrage but they got beautifully improvised it was the most logical arrangement I ever heard, then Olive Logan talked of a converted house last night subject The Passions but before she throught they found that she had hit the nail on the head and told truths and anecdotes which recovered their applause and they had to confess that they like her Likewise Miss Delphine Baker gave a on her own work on "Politicks principle and Power" it was good it was a strong argument for women. Suffrage Then Wisely gave out Franchise A, "Subject "The trials of a conservative with the Woman Question" in course he got worsted every time I did not hear from him during to venture out but Miss McKee told me about it said that she never heard so much fun nor Sara is one with laughing in an evening before and here I will say that she said that Dr Thompson set right. behind her and this he said that he came to laugh and she avowed that he did it thoroughly I have not seen him but frequently hear of his performing some surgical opperation Then there are three or four more Lecture courses yes I had a letter from Dorr I never liked any thing about his going to sheffield and I should think it almost torn from him to be 1 pill his letter was dated July 3 ocso did Rosa have a letter from Dorr and he advised her, if Josef did not do about right to put hot lard in his ears he told how pleased he was with the necktie. which she sent and the stocking too and how he would dance her around the room if he could see her and she laughed till she cried over the nonsense in my letter. Dorr said that he was expecting you to his house and he was going to make you so comfortable but the best laid schemes of "mice and men" I don't have nor see anything of Proffessor Wilcox perhaps he has left the city O Jenny Foster mother is dead and I read a death of Mrs. Beckhoff if that is the name you know that Polish gentleman that used to call on mother Senator Morrell of Maine is dead or is dying and as usual Alexander at Stephens lies at death-door Gen Robert Lee is dead and this reminds me that I read the death of Col Artemas Lee of Templeton in the stay all Pensylvania Ave is torn up and they are putting down wooden pavement to be done by the first of Jun/71 Mr Grost and Sherwood people inquire and send love every time and Mrs. McGhee always has a standing message and that is to tell you that she loves you' I have finished one sheet and I am real tired and have fortified my lungs by putting alcohol on them and will scribble till tired again I expect Bee and Fannie this winter I hope that they will not disappoint me a visit from them would be like a green island in the ocean should they not come then can I fall back on my ever-abiding resort in the memory of living which never deserts me so I am never alone some word though or deed of his cheers me on in my every day life I suppose that you heard of the loss of the Cambern in the court of Ireland it was one of Anchor Line Len Davis of Chicago was lost was sen if honest John Davis of Worcester I send all the Journals and Reckords that has any thing of yours in them to Bee and he sends me the Liberal Christian, Old and Hero a monthly contributed to by the[*If Dorr comes will you come with him*] best talent in the country and the Woman's Journal which grows better and better every time Mrs. Lincemore is the editor do you ever see the American papers I suppose you would at the constitutes. Dan Miller has left Bers Alice is there yet tho Kitty did her best to get her back. Kitty came near dying with dysentery and she set her heart upon Alice coming home but she would not come. Kitty has gone out in the country and Ellen is keeping house and going to school. Kate is poor as ever wishes Miss Barton would come home. Phill has had a carbuncle boil in his neck which hurt his foot on Willie fell into the water and little Caty had the chills and they as usual don't any of them feel very well themselves I have not seen the Westfalls for a long time has any body told you that Rosa has had a fallen on her thumb she has had a doubtful time with it, a piece of bone came out which looked like a fish-bone she has just got so that she can use it after she left Miss Willards she cleaned the new build- ings in the son whose guest bought and I expect hurt his hand at home these will night and nights that she could not sleep or work and grant poor and Sall and needed all sympathy and all her friends could give her Mrs Winslow tended the hand and told he came any time no matter of she had no money and Miss Westfall had her bring her washing there and put in pies and help her girl and tend duly so as not to loose her walk and I tried to grab her a helping hand and Sall is walking every day to work for his place of course Rosa could not go into the Laundry there and it is burst up non and the other Laundrys employ crish help and wont speak to a negro and Rosa thought of going out to retirebut quiet days she had better stay at home and take care of his kind and get in what washing she can and cook his vishuals and he will do all the work he can get to do his is now working for the man of where he bought his house, just says it has gone up in value as the Depot is to be with two of these squires of it did I tell you in my last letter that Rosa called the morgue to Mrs Westfalls Mrs W and both thought that that it was better not be left for a seven yr servant to use and Mrs W said that her experience was that a servant unused to one would not use it as though of course that Rosa would take it home and use it but she thought then that she should go out to serve and it might be used at W but Miss Willard came over and ask for it, and it was then that Mrs Westfall came to see me if she might let Miss Willard have it of course I did not call who did it if Rosa did not want it, so it went back to mrs Willard and it was there two months as and they never used it or when Rosa got so that she could wash she went and as had men work for it as she could not even Oyes said Miss W we have not us without at all so Rosa carried it home and now Miss Willard demands it and sent her and after it and Rosa wont give it up his hand as yet weak and she wasnt wrong, at all with it Rosa came up yesterday, said that Miss mary said if she did not send it back she should send an officer after Rosa wished me to tell you that she had eight teeth out at once in five at an who Dr Loe knowed is going to much for a new sent she has not all her front ones out thats that will not have them out and she get along and did not yet get over it Oct 25th 1877 Monday P.M. 33 Sally Barton Dear sister [?] I wrote you last week but told you nothing about Rosa for the reason that I had sent for her to come and see me and she had not been and I did not wish to write any thing but just what she wished me to write, she came last evening and I had a long talk with her To go back and review the subject perhaps you will better understand it the day after my return I do not know what happened here together so Rosa had not complaint to make but two weeks after she came and said that she was going to leave but do work now so hard and the washings so large and no stove to cook we wait with and she had told Miss Mary that she could not stand it that Ida and Mamy best to have there breakfast at seven in the morning that both slop buckets had leaked so that they could not be used and the boiler too that she had asked Miss Mary to get them mended and she said that she could not afford too and that she Rosa had to bring all the slops from the chamber in the foot baths on her head and all the slops from the kitchen had to go out in the dish pan and when she complained Miss Mary told that she might go that she could get enough to do the work for what she gave her and she wished me to write and tell you how things were. I told Rosa that I had not heard from you and that you might be sick and on the bed and it would annoy you very much if you were sick to get such news the very first you got from home that she and Miss Mary had better talk at once, and make up their mind what they would do before they troubled you and beside I did not like to meddle with other peoples business especially when I had not been asked too, knowing that Miss Willard would not like it and perhaps you might not thank me for interfereing she said that Miss Mary asked for the key to your chamber and went in and got the paper to use for wrapping, you list of missing men I told Rosa that I thought that she was to keep that key herself, and be responsible for the things in the room, and she says what can a colored person do when a white lady who they are working for tell them to give me dat key we always been used to minding I told her as I understood it that she was not to quit Miss Claras [A?ny] without letting her know it nor was Miss Willard to quit either without giving you sufficient time to arrange what to do and so I advised her to talk it over with Miss Mary and she went home, but it seems that [Guret] thought I was unfriendly to them because I did not write you and get Mr. Westfall to write to Gleason and Gleasonwas coming ~ [?] came to bring me some tomatoes and he had the same story only longer how he had lost all his work in the garden the drought had dried up every thing there was nothing to sell one dollar and a half was all he had sold the rest had been eaten at home he had got in four ton of coal and cut up a cord of wood and Miss Mary had never given him a cent that Rosa had to work so hard that she could not do it if he did not help her he got up long before light and built the fire so forth and so on and another thing he said the idea of Miss Marys getting your spoons which you had put away and was not to be used I asked him what spoons and he did not know only it troubled Rosa cause your things were all being used up [?] did not want me to tell Ida what he said for she has conspired against them. Well I did not tell her what he said but told Ida that I heard you say that Miss W nor Rosa was to quit without letting you know it and that Rosa said that Miss Willard said that if she was dissatisfied she would not get home from market till Tuesday non and then her feet were so sore her great toe just ached so tht she could cry with it and it took her all the week to iron that she got no time to sew only to make up [D??s] dress which Ida cut for her tht she had to hire her sewing done and tht she thought Miss Mary ought to give her a pair of shoes now and then and when she asked her about it she said she could not afford it that it cost more to run the house than you said it would and Rosa reported last night what she said befor that Miss Mary said that she might go and that Miss Clara had nothing to do with the things there and now said Rosa there is where Miss Mary has got Miss Clara don't she pay the rent for the house and can't she turn me out any time when she pleases that is the way I sees it" she says and she is in such a movement for fine tht she will not be [?] sense tht she can not sleep after three oclock that Miss Mary hurries her to get the breakfast 5 might go and likewise that you said that Rosa was to have charge of that chamber for what was in there was not to be used about the house hurrah! [?] was right Ida was indignant said that Rosa lied that Miss Willard never said so and don't I know what a time you and Gleason had with Rosa how [?] she got was going to leave and that you was affraid to ask her to do any thing for you that Mr Kitz woman had told her how well in how much they gave her and Rosa would not work without you gave her moer presents and did better by her that she was going to have a divorce from [?] and I dont know what all and tht Miss Willard said that you sent for her to come in and tell you tht the woman lied Well Clara I put my boot in it but I told the truth and I am not the first one that has been sacrificed for a principle Well when I got you letter last week by [Gleason] I sent for Rosa and she came last night and I told her to tell me what to say to you and she repeated all I have said and more she said that the washing was awful full and five white skirts in a week and no way to wash but that old leaky boiler and it serves [?] no [?] [?] be used that Miss Mary gave her money for market and told her so many things to get that she could not ride, after walk'n both ways 7 and how can I hurry in one heele and them old leaky things, it takes all the satisfaction out of me for I never was hurried when I was a slave there was no need of it I asked Rosa what spoons she got out of your room, she said they were Mothers, and she put them back, that Miss Mary said that you told her that she might use them, and Rosa says now how is that Miss Mary says you tell her one thing, and Miss Clara tell me another Miss Mary tell me that Miss Clara spected her to take boarders and Miss Clara tell me that there would be nobody in the family but Mr [??anch] and Miss Willard and that Miss Ida would leave when you comed back and now she gone and take Miss Mamy too, she says that your carpet in the parlor has not been up in all summer and you spected Miss Mary would put matting down but she could not afford it nor has it been taken up this fall and that worries her, and finally Rosa says if you think she ought to stay she will try to endure without she feels that if she has to work to such disadvantage that she will never be of any use to you nor herself if you and she ever live to meet again and then it worried her because they do not tell her when they hear from you [?] knew that [?] had heard from you a week before and I had answered and worried about you and asked Ida if any of them have heard from you, all was silent two days after I saw both of the girls and I inquired again if Jules had not heard anything fromand Mamy stared her eyes open an Ida why yes [more than a week ago] Jules brought a letter up for Miss Willard to read. said John and Mamy said moer than a week ago so Clara I will say again if you wish me to hear from you, you must write me for I shall not be apt to inquire of this it is their way and they cant help it I suppose Well Clara this is a long story of repetition and I would gladly avoid in telling you but you asked me to tell you about Rosa if she could have written herself I would have said nothing but as she could not make her complaint know to you I have told you I presume that Miss Willard has complained against them judging from the manner that Ida spoke of Rosa for Ida avered that Rosa did not have to work half as hard as I did and tht Miss Willard was [?] that she she should take all the week to iron never seeming to think that a little rest was necessary for a nigger Rosa told me last evening that Miss Willard had three white petticoats in the wash that week and stood in the house all the time and one of them was as clean as when it came out of the washtub only a little wrinkled and that Ida had two and she added I had that big tub just as full of cloths as could be packed to pour de hot water in and I has to hurry so to get them out to get them dry Rosa says tht she thinks that she could earn her living as easy in service if she hired two rooms and took in washing but would try and do as Miss Clara wished her too she sent a [?] of love and hoped that if you lived to come back that you never would leave her with your things again and somebody to wear them out Miss Willard has been talking of coming down here but I have not seen any of them for more than a week but I presume that she has written you and tht you knew her [?] of the matter so good night dear sister Clara and do not let this twaddle annoy you or rob you of a minute sleep your Affect Sister Sarah B Vassall P.S they have had a little earthquake in Worcester all New England felt the shake I hope to hear from you soon did I tell you tht Rosa brought me her letter from you and was pleased well this it Rosas letter and I might as well sign it RosaSister Sall Ansd Paris 15/1871 I think that there is more going on in Washington this winter than I have ever known in a winter before. The City has been deluged with Lectures. The Second Army has had a course of 12 (We had tickets to this) the Calvary Baptist have a course The different Post have had a course A course of Scientific The Woman sufferage a course. Dr Kenmen on his Mormon trip Annie Dickinson lectures on Joan of Arc tonight, Kate Field has been here and last night they had a great time in the Rotunda unveiling the Lincoln Statue executed by Vinne Ream I should judge by what the papers say that it was a perfect success, and on the 11-12th a great Womans Sufferage meeting was held Woodhull and Clafflin figured in it. Mrs Woodhull taking the ground that by the 14 and 15 amendments that the women had already the right to vote they besieged Congress and they have a room in the Washington Jan 26/71[?] Dear Sister Clara I did not receive your long and welcome and long looked for letter untill the 12th of Jan you see not quite in time for Christmas but it was just like all other Christmases it would not wait for letters nor visitors. We did expect Piers[?] and Alvertis[?] people but they or rather Bev could not come until the yearly [re]port was made out, and of course that could not be done till Jan and now they dont know as they can come at it all I have expected a letter all this week saying either yea or nay but the Postman walked by this morning in the snow storm never deigning to look at the house Well as usual I must speak of my health I am better of that lung difficulty I had, it was not like any thing I ever had before I think it was the itching[?] humour I have which settled in my lungs [*I saw Mrs Griffin at the convention just spoke with [?] every body sends love Rosa wishes me to ask you when you are coming home She wants to see about [?] and [?] [?] chemise herself her health is quite good this winter wishes to be remembered to you*]and after trying Dr Geoot and Hutch and listning to turn Dark and Stormy I took Whiskey inside and put on porous plas- ters on my chest and back are covered with scabies and irritations and now my cough comes and goes and I call myself well and go as much as a moral being ought to go but I can not heal myself without suffering intolerably I was so glad to hear that you were able to be in the work which you are engaged in and that you were not in the Hospitals I think that you have done enough such work. On the 28 of Nov Justin Mr Hurtzig delivered a lecture on the Franco Prussian War justifying the Prussians, but I believe that today public sentiment [deprecates?] it as a war of butchery to me it seems useless for you to try to heal the sins of a Nation so again I say that I am glad that "your [?]is gone" and every body to school I read your letter seemed to rejoice that you were out of the Hospital, I received your letter just as I was going to the Womans Convention at Lincoln Hall and I let Liev Olympia Brenn read it when she inquired for you and I told her that I had just had a letter from you she begd to see it and sent a great deal of love "tho' you did not know her" then I read it to lots who came in sent it to Mr Westfalls and Ida brought it back then I took it to Mr Grosts and read it to them they sent a deal of love Mrs Grost wondered if you could get time to read a letter from her I thought you would take time and told her to write, poor Trent was sick with Typhoid fever why does he live, God knows and here let me say that little Phil Westfall has been dreadful sick with the croup they just saved him Mrs Westfall worked day and night never speaking only to ask for directions but he broke down Mrs Winslow said it was the hardest night she ever passed We took New Years dinner there on Monday 2dI have tried to tell you what has been and what is and non I will tell tell you that there is to be a Carnival here the 21 and 20 (I was going to say 2 2 but no that is Washington Battle day. Well they have paved Penn Avenue with wood and it is very smooth no crossings and every body rides as fast as the flow will let them and some faster and so they wish to celebrate the event by a great display of Fancy Mystique and other parades tricks of speed tournaments fire works illuminations. They expect that last known fare will be reduced to half price. I resent your long letter to Rosa and he enjoyed it much as usual she last dreamed of Miss Clare "and had Dorr started to come that great long route again wont he stop and see Miss Clara" I know that I shall be so glad but I shall cry when I see him" Rosa was here this week said she met Shaw or Sutter he searched and stopped was doubtful glad to see how inspired for Miss Clara and every body said that she must come and see him Garst has not had work since it get too cold to fix letters and has been unwell So Rosa says I see war been nothing of good State of helping her this winter I believe this is late all the news Your affect Sister Sarah B. Vassall Capital appropriated to to their use and a committee was chosen to watch Congress and I see by the papers that they are there and invite people to call for information, In the mean time the [?] Suffrage politeness headed by Mrs Com Dalgreen and Mrs Gen Sherman are busy but they are getting some of the gloss rubbed off their aristocratic wings by being asked what they knew about the wants and needs of the working women and by being told that they themselves neglect their families and duties as wife and Mother by leading the fashionable life they do, even the Daily papers vile and bitter as they have been seemed once in a while to make up a sense of justice. I went to have Miss Kelley sing Tuesday night "I spects it was grand" but it did not "touch my feelings" greatly and I go tonight to hear Foust in King Lear never expect to hear him again as he retires soon but it hasstormed all day a kind of hail and every body is shovelling off pavements and now don't for a moment suppose that because there is so much going on here that there is no begging the cry for cold victuals is just as loud as ever. Would that Congress would make an appropriation or that some of the money perish for amusements in this city could be used to buy a home where Godpeople would help to earn their living where the children could be educated [and] in work as well as science and be made to respect themselves. come home and start something of the kind and I think that every true woman would help, would that the women would take hold of this begging and show our legislators that they have done these works wrong heretofore. I see by the spy that the library in Oxford is ready to be opened and now a wish comes over me which I should like to see consummated if it should meet the approval of the rest of the family and it is this when you come home. I would like that you and Ber and Fannie would select from Irvings meetings and letters what you think proper and write a short memoir of his life for that Library to be kept there not for general distribution. only for [the] a best friend perhaps but for the Library more specifically. I think that it would be fitting as his body lies there that his thoughts should be there too. O have you heard that Mr. Severence is dead. he was killed by a crazy class-mate of his son shot while eating supper. I trust it was Troy where he lived. It arrived before I wrote my last letter but I forgot to write it, you ask where Mussey is. Ida says that she is at home helping to do the work Ada has moved up to the village. I scarcely know any thing about the Oxford people now as I have no correspondence there.only think I have not seen that great luberly boy since I started for Scotland it is Shires day almost night and must mail this tomorrow in so goodbye for now Friday noon no letters from Worcester yet heard Forest last night came home on foot cuss could not run much for snow Anna Dickinson lectures in behalf of the French Fair in spite of the weather [the] Lincoln Hull was half full The report here is today that Paris is fallen and there is a prospect of Napoleon's being restored and for what has all this suffering been are you not coming home when Dorr comes it does seem as tho he would stop in Europe so goodbye again yours Sall Oct. 25, 1871] Dear Sister Clara I told you in my letter that I would or should pay the full postage on my to you but they seemed to be in a muddle about the rate of postage at first they said it would be 30 cents but finally said it would be 10 cents and that would take it to France and that you no (Mifs Clara) would have to pay 10 cents more when if it got to Corsica yours truly SallMrs Mc They sends lots of love Mr Sherwood called on you by proxy on New Years day so he wished me to wish you O Bill Croig is dead so the Spy says I suppose that you heard of the death of Mayor Blake of Worcester caused by the explosion of the gas works Henry Chapin is non [*Sally Vassalls*] Milan, April 4, 1872. Dearest Sister Sall:- Perhaps while I sit crowded into this dark corner listening to a perfect deluge of opera music I may be able to steal out the opportunity to scribble a few rough lines to tell you where I am and how I came here. About 2 weeks ago Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon wrote me from London that they were out of patience that I should stay in Germany and write blind letters, and had determined to subiit to nothing more of the kind and should leave London in three days to come for me and take me with them to London. They thought that their position both as friends and American demanded that they see personally what my condition was. Very obediently I made arrangements to accompany them, and in due season they made their appearance via of the Rhine. After a visit of two days I bid go on bye to the little band of dear ones in Carlsruhe, among whom were both Miss Margot and Miss Zimmerman, the latter sick in bed, and started for London through Strassbourg, which city they were anxious to see. We spent Sunday there, and I had all the world to bid good bye once more and get off Sunday night at six o'clock, with my heart tender and more with all the adious of the last two days. We came on to Paris that night, and met a family of Americans from London, intimate friends of Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon, when they had promised to meet there, on their way to Italy for a trip of sight seeing of six weeks. The family was composed of four persons, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, their daughter and son-in law, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, all of whom have resided in London and Paris some eight years, Mr. Holmes having been the American Commissioner to the Paris Exhibition (in 1862 I think it was) They are among the most intelligent and excellent people I have had the pleasure to meet, although I have never known of them, I seemed to have been an old acquaintance of theirs, and at once wanted that I make one of their party of the trip. Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon saw how good an opportunity it was for me and with2. many tears poor Abby" turned against all her own desires and interests", she said and advised me to accept the proposition, it was of course as late as one ought to start on a trip to Rome and Naples and if I would see them this year it was my time. The sum of it all was that I stored my trunks, took a little hand satchel with one single change, a shawl and waterproof, and bidding another good bye to Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon at 3 P.M. March 28, I set out, with my new found party for Italy. They had all been over the ground before and the route was arranged as follows, First, down the Lyons road to Macon (not Lyens) on to Turin, Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples, back to Rome, to Leghorn, Pisa, Nice, Marseilles, Lyons, Paris and London, with all intervening points of interest, travelling leisurely and homelike and seeing all one wanted to see. Our first day and night took us to Macon, near Geneva, which was an old route to me, and to us all or we should not have made it in the night, and was all the night travelling we were to do on the entire journey. We passed on to Bulos and at 4 P.M. came up to the Italian line and were overhauled for a foreign country. Having neither tobacco nor liquors in our satchels we were permitted to enter the domain of his majesty King Victor Emmanuel and after a railway dinner we proceeded and at 5 came up to the famous Mt. Cenes tunnell under the Alps, 8 miles in length, and in some places 8000 feet below the surface of the earth. The track is double and the solid rock is cut smooth on all sides having been bored by machinery. There are 14 strong lights posted a kilometre apart and numbered like the glass box of a street lamp, so that as one passes the distance is clearly ascertained, - there is no smoke, like ordinary tunnels, an immense apparatus erected at one opening rushes the air through the entire length of the tunnell and it is as fresh as a spring morning. The cars are so strongly lighted that a dim glimpse of the track beside the train is all the time possible. It is an immense and beautiful work.[*2.*] [*many tears poor Abby" turned against all her own desires and interests", she said and advised me to accept the proposition, it was of course as late as one ought to start on a trip to Rome and Naples and if I would see them this year it was my time. The sum of it all was that I stored my trunks, took a little hand satchel with one single change, a shawl and waterproof, and bidding another good bye to Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon at 3 P.M. March 28, I set out, with my new found party for Italy. They had all been over the ground before and the route was arranged as follows, First, down the Lyons road to Macon (not Lyens) on to Turin, Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples, back to Rome, to Leghorn, Pisa, Nice, Marseilles, Lyons, Paris and London, with all intervening points of interest, travelling leisurely and homelike and seeing all one wanted to see. Our first day and night took us to Macon, near Geneva, which was an old route to me, and to us all or we should not have made it in the night, and was all the night travelling we were to do on the entire journey. We passed on to Bulos and at 4 P.M. came up to the Italian line and were overhauled for a foreign country. Having neither tobacco nor liquors in our satchels we were permitted to enter the domain of his majesty King Victor Emmanuel and after a railway dinner we proceeded and at 5 came up to the famous Mt. Cenes tunnell under the Alps, 8 miles in length, and in some places 8000 feet below the surface of the earth. The track is double and the solid rock is cut smooth on all sides having been bored by machinery. There are 14 strong lights posted a kilometre apart and numbered like the glass box of a street lamp, so that as one passes the distance is clearly ascertained, - there is no smoke, like ordinary tunnels, an immense apparatus erected at one opening rushes the air through the entire length of the tunnell and it is as fresh as a spring morning. The cars are so strongly lighted that a dim glimpse of the track beside the train is all the time possible. It is an immense and beautiful work.*] [*Cousin Jery spent one Sunday afternoon and evening here and he and Ber and Vest did Walk Carolina all over*] [*Georgia Cummon is in Kansas*] [*Sarah B Vassall - Recd May - Ansd July 7 - 1872 London - *] Worcester May 1st 1872 Dear Sister Clara I know and have known for the last month that I owed you at least two letters, but I have been so generous with them that I cannot lay my hand on only the one you sent throughMiss Haskell that she forwarded about the 20 of March (of course a birth day) present, it was dated the 20th Feb, I wrote you since I received your account of your Christmas probably about the first of Feb I sent all my letters by Mr Westfall to poor Mrs Griffin as you desired and then on North the last one before the 20 of Feb I brought with me and Annie took it and circulated round and I cant find it now of course cannot answer it in detail If you received Mr Westfalls letter you know about what time we came here as he called on us for your Address while we were waking up Well we got here the 1st of March it was awful cold in Washington the week we were parking up and I expected to get sick but got away by being a little home and when we got here it was cold two but the house was warm all over, in a week our things came they were to unpack and repack and arrange round the house Fannie was alone only what she hired by the day 15 cents an hour it amounted to more than a girls wages would in Washington of course I tried not to let the burden fall on her and worked rather harder than I was used to and find myself rather stiff and all, But she wrote to Aunt Kitty to let Ellen come and for a wonder she was willing and came at once Mr Westfall assisted her off she stopped in N York and saw Alice and Fannie likes her much Ever since I was sick here last year or I might say We Bee has not been willing that we should remain in Washington and Put[t]er had got through with Morely and did not make an effort to get into business then but I doubt if the climate here will suit either him or me as well as it did her Bee is building or going to build a three tenement house to be done the first of Oct near Willis house on Cedar Street beyond Elmer over the hill Willis contracted for it Bees children keep him terribly busy day and night he usually gets home at half-past six and then the doorbell begins its nock then some O Flanagan or Pattrick's boy who never did a mean thing in the world but was led on to mischief by bad boys tells his story perhaps some matter and "sunday does not always shine a Sabbath day to him" It has been proposed that we occupy one of the tenements in the new house but it seems a long time to wait with all our duds cramed into as little space as possible I dont believe that I could ever feel at home in Worcester as I did in Washington. I cannot describe it to you better than to refer you to what old Mr Baker said at the meeting "a sort of bound" I was called down at 11AM to see Warren Collier and here it is 2PM he is sick with catarrh & has been sick a year he does not look long for this world he inquired all about you your health send regards and so on, Annie is very busy just now, has gone to Boston today, is quite as fussy, no more so than usual I think, but L. is more on the square with her I wish I did not hear it sometimes Willis limbs have troubled him more than usual this winter he is not looking very well to me tho they do not say any thing about it Fannies health is pretty good Mrs Basen and Mrs Stuse have both called on me and me, her and I have been up to Stuses two evenings to play whistIda and Mamie were over last week Mamie has been quite sick with the measles she went to see Dr Porters family near Boston and was taken sick there before she had made her visit so came home was out of her head all the time got cold they were alarmed about her. They came over to meet Nettie at the junction Jules wrote them that she would be there in the PM train Saturday so they got on at the junction and rode down to the Western Depot found Nettie her baby sister and there Grand Father and Grand Mother going to Maine to spend the summer Jules and wife remain in Washington he has left the Treasury and is in business in [Gatts?] for himself Amelia has another boy two months old Betsey's health is better and Vera is real smart visiting schools and tending PO O Jessy told her that [Livy/Lucy] father had been at home and has been Worcester he saw him Hortense, Jessys dau ghter is married to a Mr Cory married very well both very young and Lurella Stone is married to a Mr Prince of Webster Cousin [?] Snow has been very sick not expected to live but is some better now she is at Mr Converse and Lizzy Stone is taking care of her Emma [?] is married to Mr Phillips left the [?] 5 Well now I will try and tell you what I am doing, for years my old accumulated letters have hung heavy on my mind and last summer when we were both sick here I made a vow if I get back to Washington and was able that I would read over my letters and destroy all such letters that I would not be willing the world should see and so I have commenced I have saved a good many of yours but have destroyed more and the poor mutilated paper that lies under my table would be a subject for the world to gossip over for the next fifty years I shall get to Irvings soon it will be hard to part with them but I will not treasure all his troubles and grief his poverty and aspirations his defied hope for others to read who never could comprehend it all because they did not know him nor could not understand him perhaps if they did, I will try and keep the bright side out and let the sad be buried from the world as he is buried and his blighted hopes dwell only in the memory of those who loved him toodeeply to forget, trusting and believing that ere he passed away she felt that his life mission had been accomplished that he had not "lived in vain" that he saw the travail of his soul and was satisfied and so ought we to be Now I will try and answer your letter by Miss Haskell[?] I wonder if you are blind you say that you will be careful of your eyes I have seen you try to be careful before but I can but be worried about them No I do not feel equal to doing (Well [I] if I was across the ocean) I might do England and Scotland with you but I should dread the journey I sometimes think that you are going to wait till They get a sail road across the ocean but really are you not coming home this summer evry body expects you will and I tell them that I expect from what I saw in the Grand Army Journal your reply to the Syracuse letter that you intended to come so as to be here this fall I will try and keep my eyes good so that I can see for you Mr Westfield informed me that you had written Mrs Griffins daughters since their mothers death and that they brought the letter to show him where to Direct his letters too and expressed a wish to know but have received no answer yet since al letters have passed between us in regard to Ellen since we left, so if I do not have before I close this shall direct to witzerland as usual but if you are in England it would seem to get out of the way Sumner Barton daughter Mae is married to a Mr Dana (whose name was Smith till just before he got married) they have gone to Europe where his mother is I have not seen any of the family since I came the woods west of Oxford plane was burnt over the other day about 200 acres the town of Oxford have voted to build a memorial hall Moses Stone is married to a Mrs Jules cousin to Mrs Desoit[?] the Col is nearly blind goes out but little Nancy[?] and [?] have been to see us and their Susan and Arthur have not seen Uncle John he is well all send love Jerry says that Lizzy Turner is better his mother has been with Clara but is going to her home in Grafton[?] when it is warm Mrs John Moulton goes with her Nancy saw that Ruth and Chester were well enough to get along alone I think of going to O memorial day Shall go and see them I think it is time for you to come home. We have used up all my paper and envelopes you gave me but one sheet and a little envelope. When I left Washington every body, wish to be remembered to you and Mrs. Grosh sent her request to me yesterday in Mrs. Dyer letter so I will send it on to you. Mr. Gross eyes trouble him much. I will talk about Rosie now Ellen went to see her the day before she left. She said that Rosie said Jared did not help pay the rent nor buy the food not even get his tobacco but intimated that what he worked for laid out for by but we did not work now. Rose did not come to me before I left that he was as bad as that. She said that she was not affraid of him but he was cross. Well I wrote to Rosie and Mrs. Westfall to do as she thought but about resolving it to her the prospect was this if Jared was too ugly to with and she had him to support if she would say to Mr. Westfalls people that she wished to come north I would get her a place here and she might leave him alone in his glory for a while at least. I can't say more now unless I go into politicks and I shant do that. O if you have eyes trouble you, you will never know what is in this letter. So far nobody in world of Europe can comprehend it but you and me. There Fannie has given me an envelope and send love. I hope this will find with eyes improving and health from you. Affectionately yours, Sarah B Roswell West sends love has just come in and so has Ber say tell you that he is cross but before this gets to you will be clene the house is offering the the Round of State Charities about trying the boys the legislature much to her than tried by the justice of Peace of alot I believe that is it Anna --have not and write and tell us when you are coming. Love all write to know it was the topic at the din table, Yours SBJSandown Isle of Wight Mrs Sarah B Vassall No 10. Orchard St Worcester Masschusetts [*picture of Grate*] Sandown Isle of Wight Sept 21, 1842 Dearest sister Sall I cry pecamia. You did tell me that you lived at No 10 Orchard Street and I was so stupid as to overlook it. The date was as nearly written over that I did no catch the under writing--until today as I went to fill the letter and then I made the discovery. but it is too late for your letter went last night in case of Ben. and this will be one [* it she is occupied in squinting at Mrs Taylor with both eyes now which looks to me like a pretty saucy piece of businessmail later but I cannot wait without making my con- fession, for you must know that you gave me your address and will think i have lost my senses. I am sending a letter off to New Haven and I slip this little [mail] in just to tell you of my blunder. I wonder if your street is named from its abun- dance of fruit - if so I shall want to come and live on it too -- the fruit in England this year is nearly extinct. The frosts have done great damage - and all fruit is scarce, and dear - it was the same thing in Germany last year and the year before when I was in Alsace. The [] had destroyed it all. I think I have the "luck of it" Still I adhear to my nieces old practice of baked apples and stewed apple sauce I manage to get enough for this at some price but if you have abundance on your street let me know It is so cold today that we have a fire in our parlor. I was writing upstairs but Mrs. Taylor has come and called one down (?) and I have brought this big letter to finish. I find Mrs. Taylor making a beautiful water color painting from one of Miss Margot's originals--while Miss Margot sits the opposite side of the table with a canvas before her in which she is making the sketch of Mrs. Taylor for a life size portrait in oil. They had the bright sun through a bow window on one side and a blazing grate on the other--a comfortable lively couple --(?) I said I am writing you. They both cried out "!" send my love to Mrs. Alende (?) so here it is-- I told them of your new --(?) and they declared that Miss Margot shall make a sketch or draft of ours and send you. They thought its newness of style and great conveniences would interest you if she sends it. You will see that England is on a wonderful slate of advancement in the shore and cooking(?) line. I am not sure that she will sendThe best working in England is done by just as primitive a machine for a stove as this The meat hung up in front of that grate and turned around as it roasts - the oven on the side heats on one side and has no dampers - There is a little [separation] for hot water on the appropriate side of the fire from the oven - but all is boiled or fried or steamed just on top of the fire as that tea kettle stands in the blaze and smoke and remember with all this that the coal of England is almost entirely bituminous - much more soft and smelly & smoky than the Cumberland and you will have some idea of what it is to keep house and cook in Great Britain Miss Margaret has been much to clean about the hearth, and the soot that is constantly falling on to the top of the range each side of the fire - it is sincerely possible to set a plate there to heat, or a bit of food to keep warm - a piece of soft soot as large as your hand will come splash into it - We are enjoying ourselves over the envious comparison you will make between your new yankee range - and ours. Worcester March 28 1874 Dear Sister Clara Wife said that I could write on this sheet if I would I don't know as I can say much in addition to what she has said. no one has the least idea how she has suffered except myself. you know when you first came she had that trouble in her stomach I has never been rid of it since but not to bad until the last six or eight weeks. The Dr spoke rather [discouragingly] the two last time he was here was afraid that it was organic but hoped not I have been at home for the most part of the time for a month and shall attend to her wants as long as needed if able I'd think I shall be & have endeavoured to get every thing she wanted. I have just stopped to rub her sides & back I can see that she grows weaker every day don't sit up much of the time or in in fact don't lie on one place long at a time the house is warm all throughout She has laid in the bed room for the most part of the night until two nights past has been in the front room all night has a good bed then yesterday soon a very pleasant day but snowed in the night but today is warm & pleasant I have written this in a hurry perhaps you can make it out Yours as Ever Vester as long as she was [?] and besides she and her sister [R?] who is a widow talk of buying a place Julia was over but [?] and spent the day Vester went this morning to the Depot to meet Bee to have her get Cooks Balm of Life if it is to be found in Boston I have used it myself and know that it does not injure any one and besides it greatly relieves poor Barton[s?] there are so many people in Washington who [?] buy case in that I thought if has it I should take it you could find out by Cook whether he has an agency in Boston I sent one of Cooks books to Lizzy L[arm?] for her self she saw it [did?] not effect herbut the mother had humor in her head and she never expected her to be better she applied it and she though it did wonders Now Clara you must not worry about me it will do no good and I doubt that it would be safe for you to come here at this season if you got lung difficulties there you would be much more apt to have, the ground was all covered with a thick snow this morning I am most obliged fur the ten dollars you sent I know you care and do not suffer for any thing and all the world could only look in and see my distress I have written more than I ought at a time and have not answered your letter at al so good bye from your affectionate sister Sarah B Vassal[Sarah Vassall, May 29, 1889]File Aunt Sally 34 Oxford Mid-Weekly Room read of Post Office, OXFORD, MASS. Entered at Post Office as second class matter. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1889. MEMORIAL DAY. As has been the custom of the Grant Army Post here, Memorial Day which comes to-morrow, will be observed with all the ceremonials that have been unusual in this community of Oxford. Public services at Memorial Hall and in the three Cemeteries, with the Decoration of the Graves of the heroic dead, will constitute the work of the morning as it has been planned in the programme. In the evening there will be a unique and soldierly arranged entertainment in the hall, of war song and tableau, illustrative of the camp and field and home as in the days when soldiering was a serious business, which will be worthy of a liberal patronage. The Procession will be formed in the front of Memorial Hall, at 8 o'clock, and it is hoped the various bodies that are to constitute it will be prompt to time. The following is the order of formation : Chief Marshal, - Com. L. E. Thayer. AIDS. H. K. Johnson, Chas. Vinton, A.G. McIntyre, Edgar Salter, Geo. A. Willey, Edw. Hallowell, J. G. Bowdish, J. P. Siddall. North Oxford Cadet Band. Post 27, J. A. Taft, Commander. S. of Vets., Camp 12, A. L. Taft Capt. W. R. C., 81, Mrs. Yeomans, Prs. Oxford Fire Department. Schools. Carriages with Disabled Soldiers, Orator of the Day. Clerfy, Town Officers, Floral Committee, Singers, 43 Children. Citizens. The route of the procession will be - down Main street, countermarch to South Cemetery, where after decorating the graves, there will begin the religious services to take place during the march, viz: Prayer, Rev. I. I. Johnson. Address, Rev. W. N. T. Dean. Thence to the Catholic Cemetery - Address, Rev. C. J. Boylan. Thence to the North Cemetery, where after music and signing - Address, Rev. A. Tyler. The procession will then re-form and return to Memorial Hall, where the formal public exercises of the day will take place will take place, commencing at 11 o'clock. John E. Kimball, Esq., will preside. Music, North Oxford Cadet Band. Prayer, Rev. Mr. Lothrop. Singing, by a Double Male Quartette. Memorial Address, Rev. P. R. Stratton Singing, Quartette. Prayer, Rev. Mr. Dean. Singing, "America," Quartette and the congregation. Benediction, Rev. I. T. Johnson. The following is a list of the graves to be decorated. SOUTH CEMETERY. Maj. G. A. Amidon,Charles A. Hall, Capt. Albert Prince,D. Nelson Harris, George Bacon, George Moran, Estus E. Baker, Edwin C. Rindge, Horatio C. Dodge, Vernon F. Rindge. Manson Gould, CATHOLIC CEMETERY. Daniel Lucy, Daniel Toomey. NORTH CEMETERY. James D. Adams, Thomas King, Myron J. Balcom, Truman Marble, James O. Bartlett, Austin W. Martin, David Barton, Albert Moffitt, Daniel W. Blandin, George C. Munroe, William J. Bond, William Severance, John Brown, Eugene Smith, Jacob L. Childs, Rhodes Stafford, Edwin Cudworth, George H. Stevens, Lewis T. Emerson, Elisha C. Taft, George L. Grover, Irving Vassall, Joseph E. Haskell, Simeon Wheelock, Henry C. Hayden, Henry M. White, Ansel L. Howe, John S. Wiswell, Fred F. Johnson, Fred. E. Young. The Woman's Relief Corps will decorate the grave of one of the two loyal sisters who were the first ladies to welcome the Massachusetts troops in Washington-that of MRS. SARAH B. VASSALL. Last week we were unable to make any clear and definite report concerning the identity or whereabouts of the assailant of Mrs LaBarte. Public opinion, however, was fast concentrating upon a young man here, F. Ed. Miller, who had suddenly disappeared. By the efforts of Selectman Barton and Detective O'Day of the Worcester police, the fugitive was traced through various stages in his flight, to Sorel, Canada, and from thence to Montreal where he was arrested by state officer Hayter, who had been sent on to bring him back. The officer, with his prisoner, reached home on Sunday, and on Monday morning an examination was held before Judge Jillson at Southbridge. The prisoner was charged with breaking and entering in the night time and with indecent assault. He plead not guilty, waived an examination and was held in $5000 to await the action of the grand jury, which next holds its session in August. He was committed for want of bail, where he must for a long three months meditate on the possibilities of a trial and sentence. John R. Thayer appeared as his counsel. His mother and brother from Oxford, and his sister from Worcester were also at the court. It is fortunate perhaps for the young prisoner that the time of the court is so far away, as it will mellow the indignant feeling that now exists, and perhaps replace that feeling with a pitiful sentiment for his youthfulness led into folly and crime by strong drink sold to him by these older and who ought to have known better. In view of such an example as this, is it a wonder that there are those who abominate the traffic and in every legal way to work to suppress it? We noted last week the fatal sickness of Mr. L. W. Pond of Worcester. He died on Tuesday, the 21st. We do not care to recal the unfortunate experiences of his life here. We only wish to record our respect and esteem for one of the most companionable and genial men we have had in the circle of our acquaintanceship. A man of large heart and a man of large sympathies, he was the friend and brother of every employee in his large business. Though he had lived ed his sixty years, his death seems early and untimely-there was so much he had hoped to do. Mrs. David Barton of North Oxford, desires to express her thanks to the No. Oxford Cadet Band, and especially to Mr. Jones, for their nice serenade given her Wednesday evening, and for their kindly respect thus shown to the aged and infirm. Long life and prosperity attend them.If I interpreted the letter which you sent Mrs Westfull righty Rosa with time taken any though and of the home when she wouldnt to after determining what you would turn away after I did of any other little way which Rosa thought ought to be taken away Rosa probit that she ought to have taken the stare which she never was get for her and left the old one Rosa told me some time ago that there was one thing she wisher that I wouldnt tell Miss ClaraShe says that Miss [Willerd?] told her repeatedly that Mr Goudy said that he had to Run Rosa out of his house and she found that she should have to do the same with Rosa and tell Miss Clara that she can see what has been to nock and that was not all that he run out of Miss Clara house the wild which you sent him that you would not turn your back in he came when she were suffering dreadfully with her throat and cheered her up Give my love to David's family & himself, I wanted to see them before I left Highihitr[?] Dear sis Sarah I am inclined to send you a card in Ber's letter, but have nothing left to say having told him all of importance & had to tell, as a matter of course I am well and have some faint hope that you are not quite tired to death us & rigging me off. How do you all do. Stephens ankle, has he gone home yet; or get off of his crutches [*Remember me to father*]I sent him just a line the day I arrrived he would not be much informed thereby, in case he ever received it more than you will be by this for I am sure you can never read it as far as I have seen I am very much pleased with Jersey and my home which really is made a home to me and nothing else I have learned a quicker, welcome and a warm hearty one it is too If I am not mistaken I shall find myself in some company before the winter is out, but hope I shall know how to meet it can not tell you anything of my school as I have not seen ought of it yet and no one here knows that I ever saw one I dont want them to expect too much of me and then they will not be disappointed How is Vester? Tell him I finished up that journeyfirst-rate, and the little "performa catch him and he's been for m I never wanted to see him so ba in my life I was never so well ac with him before shall look for a letter from him on Tuesday you will write me soon and open will you not. Friend Charly says he is going to write a part scrip so I will leave this space for him,. Your friend Sarah - Clara has kindly offered me the opportunity of writing you a le - being Married- not Clara - but yourself - and I shall say she appears very well - not in her behavior I don't mean-bu I do not wish you to take a from this that her behavior is improper at all - by no mea but in mental & corporeal health. But I must close since she is so stingy with her paper. Write soon Truly yours C Norton [There [?] I have [?] to answer both letters in one your dresses are beautiful I suppose you have the handkerchief handy I have invited Uncle John bum and Nancy to com and make me a wrist] Washington Dec. 5 Thursday morn Dear Sister Clara Yesterday A.M. the Postman brought the papers and pamphlets and I asked for a letter but "no lette" so I went to see Mattie and the baby in the P.M. and came home at 7 in the evening, house dark I lighted up and read Wendell Phillips, Parker Pillsbury and John Stuart Mill, Lars came at ten and we retired "or in other word went to bed" and this morning the "world was wrapped in its wintery sheet" for the first time and Lars cleared the snow off the stoop and when it became light he discovered your letter mailed at Chicago on the floor in oil cloth right at the door it came yesterday and I being away he tucked it under the door the wonder is was not lost in the snow I write this escplicit discourse there seems to be a sort fatality about my getting your letters your other one (which you speak off) mailed at Oxford on the 11th did not get till the 20ththe day that Gough lecture the last time that number B 12 was not on it, and altho' the notice had been given the office where to send yet I suppose they had not got the hang of the house but they come now without the number. I had worried some about it, figuring you might have sent the inserting and it had gone astray. You wrote that you was to lecture at Yonkers on the 14th and at and at Syracuse, I made it out the 20th but it seems it was the 26th you remember it was written with pencil and not very distinct Well I supposed that you had kept on your way not dreaming that you would return to Mass or I should have answered your letter immediately. So I waited "for the bad to come round" finally Skin came to learn about you running off the track and he told me that you was, or had been back to Oxford. Well now we have got it all straight and I will talk about matters and things in general. I have not been very well but am better now I guess that I lifted the lounge a little to much I new covered it, and it needed repairing and I turned it once alone and my back sort of give out and I had a kind of diubaties, I did not think it was at first but I was thirsty and drunk finally it came over me that I was teaseing my kidneys to much so I curtailed my drinking propensities, put on more clothing and got my sKin to do some of the work am better now I guess that [?] uses Rosie well only she wished to go to school in the evening close by to a [?] man 50 cents per month and [?] would not consent to have go told her that the night [?toes] would get her but she saw that when she got ready she should ye ---(?) Mother (?) real smart has had no full-bucks (?) her nurse left the day before, but her baby cries all the time as it did yesterday. it is colicky so the nurse says and she gave it soothing syrup and kept it quiet and they, Jules, and Mother say there is opium in it and they had ---(?) ---(?) with it for the first time yesterday. She had just sent for the nurse to come in and quiet the baby as I came away. Mother is drinking ale and I suggested that she quit it and drink pepper tea and composites for a while but the Dr and nurse say that the baby will cry three months and if it does at the rate it did yesterday it won't be no whar (?) Rose comes in to see two or three times a week. She has been having a bad time with her feet. Her shoes seem to hurt them. I think they are too short for her. The (?) great toe nail was purple looked like a blood bruise but she said it was this toe(?) that hurt it. I cut through to the bruised spot and it has been better since she is out ---(?) on her third night dress. She bought the second one ---(?) ---(?) ---(?) she had several of the ---(?) but they did not seem right, pointed out at the top of the gall(?) so I had her pull it out (as it was only run) and I evened it and I expect her today if the going(?) is suitable with the other one to be evened and then I suppose there will not be much more for her to do until she gets the trimmings. If I could make as ---(?) and pretty selections as you I could get something for her to trim them but I should be offering(?) to do it without instructions you spoke of sending enclosing some money. I suppose that you did not as there was none in the letter and no amount given and you need not. I can get some stockings ---(?) when she gets out of work and if you are here in a month or so you could adjust your sewing for ---(?) perhaps more satisfactorily than I could. A letter came to Mr. V from Lonnie (?) this morning and we have just eaten dinner (soup or stew with a ---(?) ever so nice) and send his letter B--(?) and she were up to Uncle Johns Thanksgiving expected the Hardwick people nobody came but Tom and Frank. 5 page --ness(?) is dull(?) north and she says that perhaps they may come this way when Ber gets through in Boston and Lunnie(?) a naughty girl says that you don't know the difference between peat(?) and coke when she sent the coven(?) she wrote that coke was --(?) Page said pop it once and when you write me you said it was Peat twice over you repeated it and when I wrote that I told her what you wrote and asked her "Who should decide when doctors disagree" and she writes "that she knows it was coke for she heard Page tell you I am glad if it is coke for I can get that easily. I have not done any thing with my popcorm yet not even got a popper. I have been too busy but begin to see my way clear now and shall begin to make inquiries and see what I can do. I see they have it in the Lheutres(?) for 5 cts per hay. I don't know as I can sell an atom of it but if I fail shall have the satisfaction --(?)knowing that I tried to do something Lonnie sent the caen(?) or Ruthie Willis did by Adams Express of course it was the most expensive way to send it. The expressway was 3,45 cts. I don't know as he could send it by the Merchants Express but he sent two barrels to Irving for Ellen by rail and it cost only one dollar --- ----(?). I don't know but I am wrong but it does seem that a business man like B W ought to know beans better than that but this is for you and me to know. Yes I went to have Mrs. Lundee in Elizabeth and in Mary Stuart the acting was splendid especially in Elizabeth. If I could act as well as Mrs. Lundee I would not belie(?) history even if the --(?) those did. He makes Mary and Elizabeth meet and makes Mary call Elizabeth a bastard. Now we know that they never did meet and Mary Queen of Scots never forgot in all her long imprisonment the dignity as a queen. So I did not like it. Viru(?) wrote me and I am feeling concerned about her and I think that she is about herself. Ida answered my letter and she too speaks of Vern's health such that Vern told her fully(?) that she did not know but she was in a consumption. Why I have thought so for years. I have not been down to your rooms since you left but Rosa wants that I should go down there with her and --(?) it your ---(?) so it won't freeze on slight occasions and I have been thinking of it. I will have the stove all ready to ---(?) off and she can go if it is very cold and start a fire and if she could not get there I will speak to Shaun(?) to see to it she says that he has got -- lilly in his soup and Nosu says the Dr. who has the kitchen is going to have the other front room.and if they have a fire in them constantly I will put your print on that side in the cupboard perhaps and cover it well up. And so Doctor did lecture. Was it a success. I know it was as he would not be ready to go at it again. I am so sorry he broke down with a cold and cough and a fever that you will empower yourself after one has used their things in a warm room. it does not do to expose themselves too much to the cold air. Did you go to see Dr. Fuller again. I want to ask you so many questions about it. Who came besides bubby and Ste and what did Ste say but you said that you would tell me all about it and the Syracuse Editor like your lecture must all but the mc be well you can mend that easily if you wish. Please send me paper giving accounts of your whereabouts when convenient and so I should think that you had almost written another lecture Visit Fannie and Ber thought this writers letter better than last I did not see what the Worcester papers said about it Write me when you can. Affectionately Sarah B VassallCollection THE PAPERS OF CLARA BARTON Container 15 Shelf/Accession No.