BLACKWELL FAMILY

KITTY BLACKWELL

1868-1869
BLACKWELL, ALICE S.New York
June/22/68

Dear little Alice,
If I had known that
Aunt Emily was going out to
Roseville on Saturday, I would
have written you a little letter.
But I did not know of her 
going till just five minutes
before she started.
How are your kittens?
Our little kitten is sick.I am afraid it will die
soon, I am trying to feed 
it up and make it strong,
but I fear it is too late.
I hear that you have 
a nice little friend, called
Nellie Hooper.
I am very glad indeed 
that you have found
someone to play and talk
with, whom you really
like.

Little Emma [Tb] Thomas, who
opens the door for us, has come 
to in the house.
I still hear her lessons 
every day.
Aunt E. has just
given me your "Chapter of 
Accidents." Poor child! the
kittens gone _ such sever practice - 
a ruffle sen in the right way _
Kitty not writing _ Mary going _I am afraid you will, with such
a series of misfortunes, grow
desperate, and do something 
rash!
I am glad to see you return 
good for evil, in sending me
a tin-type, though to be sure, 
you have hidden the "light of
your eyes" from me.
Your cousin, Kitty


1868 June

Kitty Barry 
to AliceNellie Hooper
Aunt Emily
Emma Thomases for a Happy
u SeasonD. S. Princess: I beg that your
Highness will keep all the above
letter, "strictly private."
As a rule, if a subject may
give advice, all State secrets
had better never be spoken of,
to any, but your advisors.
L. H. A. N. F. P. A."Strictly Private".
Answer by return post.


128 Second Avenue.
New York July 10
/69

Dear Alice, 
If you would like a 
peep at Aunt Elizabeth's room,
I think you would be
rather astonished at its
appearance. 
Trunks, boxes, books, clothes
and papers, cover the floor
in every direction; so that
our room is in a constant
+ uncomfortable state oflitter.
This morning, in looking
over some old papers,
Aunt Elizabeth came across
some little stories, written
by herself + aunt Marian,
when they were about as 
old as you!
So you see, it is all "in
the family", and quite right
and proper, that you 
should do a deal of
scribbling.


I suppose you have already
received, Uncle Sam's letter, which
gives an account of their
arrival at the Vineyard.
Aunt Elizabeth, presented
each of the children, before
they left, with a little wooden
shovel for digging in 
the sand.
I have in my possession,
to be taken to the Vineyard,
a small packet, labeled
"To Alice from Aunt Elizabeth"
The said packet contains 
I believe, a shovel for you, 
and the same shall be
delivered on the first 
opportunity.
Now Alice, after this I shall
expect three kisses, instead of
a stomach rubbing, for, have
not I done my duty? Two letters
in one week! I certainly deserve
to be rewarded.
Love to Mamma,
Yours Affy,
Kitty.


Saturday, April 4th/68
Dearest Alice,
We have given away
another of our kittens, so that
now we have only two left, the
two dark ones.
Last night Aunt Ellen brought
one of the dark kittens up into the
parlor, (it was not-spit-fire), kitty
walked about the table in
great fear and surprise, at
finding herself in such a 
very strange place, and
finally walked into my lap.
I have just received your
letter on losing Frances!I have not read it yet, but will
do so and return it by Aunt Ellen
on Wednesday. 
As Aunt Emily is about
to start for Roseville, I must
leave off now.
Your cousin,
Kitty.
P.S. I can't come out this week.
I will send a letter by Aunt Ellen
on Wednesday.
[*Alice.*]

Feb. 29th 1868
Most dear and honoured Princess;
I humbly crave that
you will, in your great kindness
of heart, forgive your devoted
servant, in that she has not
communicated to your Ladyship,
during the week just elapsed,
any tidings from this your
great city of New York.
O! Princess there is but 
little to relate!

Your humble servant, has 
employed the greater part
of her time in the manafacture
of a most necessary grarment;
namely, a chemise! 
She has also practiced
her music, but she has been
unable to howl, as her chest
hurt her whenever she did so.
She has taken leave of
her singing teacher with
much sorrow, as his


instruction was very good.
Also she wanted very much
to find out whether he believed
in Gen: Garibaldi.
Our old French teacher, Monsieur 
De L'Quest, entertains us as much
as ever, with his queer sayings
and ways.
I trust that Miss Florence
B. Blackwell, has entirely
recovered from her slight
indisposition, reported to mein your Highness communication
of the early part of the week. 
My best suspects to Miss Florence.
There being nothing more to
relate, worthy of your hearing,
I shall close; only begging to say,
That I am,
Ever your humble and
devoted subject,
Neptune.
Lady High Admiral of all the
Naval Forces of the Princess Alice.1868
Feb 29

Kitty Barry
to AliceROM CROWELL-COLLIER EDITORIAL

COLLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA
COLLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA YEARBOOK
THE HARVARD CLASSICS126 Second Ave. 
Feb. 22nd 1868
Dear Alice,
To-day is Washington's
birthday; there is to be a
procession of some kind, in
honour of the day, and also, I
believe, some fire-works in
the evening.
All the shops are to be
closed after 12o'clock.
I hear my dear, that various
letters to me, have been found
about the your house, in all stages
of incompleteness.
I think you had better
collect all the letters together, andsend them in by Aunt Emily
on Monday.
The first time I come out
to Roseville, I shall bring, with
me, that volume of [our] "Our
Young Folks", which you lent me.
Do you take the "Young Folks",
this year?
I have been obliged to stop
attending my singing class,
because I have such a bad
cold that Aunt Elizabeth
will not allow me to sing.
Do you hear Aunt Marian's
letters read aloud? I hope you
do, for I am sure you would
be amused in doing so.

Frances appears to be having a
very good time, which I am
very glad of, as I was afraid 
she would find it very 
dull in Amsterdam.
Have you heard whether
Frances has written to any of
the girls in Roseville?
The ink I am using and
the pen I am writing with, are
both so bad that my writing 
is detestable. I only hope you
will be able to read the letter.
Your loving cousin,
Kitty.Alice.

126 2nd Ave.
Feb. 18th/68
Dear Alice,
I hear from Aunt
Emily that you have
vowed to treat me to
various stomache rubbings
when I next come out to
Roseville, on account ofmy many misdeeds.
"Under the circumstances",
as Uncle George would say, I
think I shall defer
marking my appearance
in Roseville, till you have
proclaimed a "truce" to all
hostilities. 
Really Alice dear, I would
have written last week,
if my eyes had been 
well enough to permit of
my doing so.
The enclosed piece called
"Sheridan's Ride", I copied for
you because I though you
would like it.
You might perhaps recite
it in school.
Ever your own cousin,
K. A. B.
KAB.1868
Feb 18
126 2nd Ave
NY

K Barry
to Alicecheer-

MERRY CHRISTMAS
A HAPPY NEW YEAR

loyd and Kathleen MayhewNew York, Feb. 6th 1868
Dear monkey,
Papa has just been in and
brought me your letter, but as he was in
a hurry to be off somewhere, I did not keep
him waiting for my answer.
As I am, you say, to have the honour 
of a visit on Saturday, from you, I think
I need not write you a very long letter.
I do not know whether I shall
be out to pay you another visit or not
this week, but if Aunt Emily stays at your
house next week, you will be pretty sure to
see me out there.
I am so glad you like the "Charge of the
Light Brigade". I like it very much indeed.
It is one of the pieces of poetry I do like.
By the by, how do you and Floy get
on with the composition of poetry?
Have you composed anything new
since I saw you?
I hope both your heads will not be turned by your success, or perhaps you may be
publishing; "Poems by Alice S. + Florence B. Blackwell".
With love to Aunt Emily, and Aunt Ellen,
and very much of the same to yourself,
I am,
your cousin,
Kitty.
P.S. Love to Floy + the "Delicate Elephant."!! or "Infant"?!!!!
By asking Floy, perhaps you will be able to
find out, who the "Delicate Elephant or Infant", is.
We have, among the attractions in Second
Avenue, a delightful colored baby.
K. A. S. B.