BLACKWELL FAMILY LUCY STONE 1861 Blackwell, Henry BMonday, June 7 - at the old home 1861 Dear Harry, I have had two letters from you here, & you learned by the post mark of my last, that we have arrived. I found all well, and glad to see us - all of them are getting fond of baby and she is a clean good child. I do so much want you to know her! We are going to Gardner either Thursday or Friday of this week, and shall remain two weeks, and then home to [Grange?], if Mother & Marian do not move over (as they may do). In case they do, they will look after things and I can stay longer & you can come & rest with us. I am sure you will need repose, & Harry darling, I hope you will not have to be so long about from us again. I dread next February. William must bravely take life as it comes. I am very busy tucking up Sarah's clothes, making summer bibs etc, etc, etc. If I do not write often, it is because I am so busy - my [boils?] continue. One has just burst, and another is nearly ready to. I don't know when they will end. My blood seems full of impurity -- great red blotches come & go like [e??????] -- you won't find me very attractive Harry. I am red, corpulent & covered with sores. Will you [?????] a [????????] ? I am glad [Nayter?] keeps to his trode. Let me know when you will come, if you can, Henry Blackwell. I love you. [?] [?????] send love. In [Last?] [Eva?] [????] [????]Lucy Stone 1861Dayton Wednesday Jan. 30 [*1861*] Dearest Harry I mailed you a letter on Sat. Morning last. At Fort Wayne, or rather Sam. enclosed for you. which you may get at the same time with this - In that I told you of my success & first lecture - I stopped at the best hotel I was ever at. All there of my lecture, were such as they used to be. and the paper came out. quite in Louisville style I am so glad to find again the old inspiration, and it comes to me more & more I cleared there $130. over all expenses - On Monday I came here. arriving about 7 o'clock P. M. Found the P. O. closed. but early in the morning went over and got your letter and enclosures - Harry dear you are the best husband in the world - In the midst of all the extra care, hurry and perplexity of business, you stop to look after all my little affairs, even to the counting my tickets, doing every thing you can to save me trouble - How shall I ever pay you, for all your thoughtful kindness? I will love you. As I do. with all my heart. And in future try and be as careful for you, & not leave the leggins for Mother to mend! Be sure I did not know they needed it. but I ought to have known - So you and Ryland have settled satisfactorily I am heartily glad. I hope it will be well for you and him - Now you are making the last collecting trip - I can understand the mingled emotions you will [*Since writing the above. I see that the papers say I will speak again on Thursday eve and as it will be sure to get up a misunderstanding When I do come that I conclude to remainfeel, and your yearning for quiet. When you get time to rest, and think, you will, I trust, find the true sphere for your activities. John, and Nettie, follow our plan of making the most of the time they are together! Nell, God make their love, as good to them, as ours is, to us. John will think us less lazy perhaps than he used to. I never think of them, without wishing for you, as I do. A thousand times besides I quite envy Mr. Astram is privilege by your pillow! Every night, when I lie down, I do so miss the sheltering love of your arms and the near personal presence! My own dear husband we must not in future, be separate so much. I feel a constant sense of loss. God bless & keep us for each other. For one half moment, the other day, I thought I should be killed, and the one thought that passed me was for you. In coming from Ft. Wayne, there were but two passenger cars; the rear one, into which I first went, as you asked me always to do, was so filthy and full of tobacco users, that I went in the front one. We had been on about an hour, when at once we felt, a sudden jerk, and then saw the baggage car, like a frightened creature, rear high in air. and with a wild plunge, it went down the bank, as it stood there poised for a brief moment, there seemed nothing to hinder our car from taking the same course, but the upset of the other released ours, and only one person was slightly injured. The whole was due to the first, springing the stretch. I found on my arrival here, that Mr. Broadwell had done the advertising very badly. For all this big town, he had but 50 posters. And there had been but a single notice in the advertising column, exept in the Gazette, whose editor knew me at home, and he had given me a good local notice. I immediately filled up all the posters I had and had them put up, but John G. Saxe was to lecture that evening. there was a very attractive bill, at the Theatre, and sleigh rides were abundant. &c &c My audience only paid $16. Hall $10. Advertising $5. Door helper $1. So that my hotel expenses will be so much out of pocket. Tonight Mrs. Mc Sheady reads & acts. A troupe of negro singers are to be here through the week, and as but one lecture was advertised. And the week is so full of attractions I conclude not to speak again, until I go to Springfield & Urbana, where I have already written I shall go home today - and to Richmond & Wichita according to the old arrangement - and have written them so. Saxe called on me last night after my lecture, and staid until nearly 11 o'clock. Camilla Rerso, and Mrs. Mc Sheady remained also. We had a pleasant time. Yesterday P.M. I rode out with the last named to the Lunatic Asylum. Camille played and Mrs. M.C. acted for the inmates. It was a nice time, but the best of all times I have had with Bryant's poems. They have been a well spring of water to me. He is a true poet. Thank you again darlingfor that grand Christmas gift. Will read more of them together some time. Augustus A. Moore sent you a kind letter. I will write him. Perhaps we cant do better than have him for a neighbor. I want our home should be somewhere near Sarah. She is all that I have, and more and more, as I think of a permanent home, I feel that I must be near to her. Perhaps we can get them to move to Eagle Rock. I wish you could be at liberty early to go a look about. Yes Harry, we will have a library and make an annual appropriation to it. I want to lecture all the rest of the season, and save as much as I can, for us. But I shall try and be at home Feb. 20. It does seem a pity that Ellen's land is sold, but if everything is decreed, it is doubtless best. I hope Geo. will take care and not freeze this cold weather; and there is another gentleman, who also must take good care of himself, against Jack Frost. I shall stay with Sarah tonight, and go home tomorrow. I am very well, and making the most I can out of the time. But shall be very very glad when we meet. I enclose what the Cincinnati Gazette said of Sam. & Nettie. The papers here have all copied that "God bless you my own dearest husband, and keep you body and soul, healthy and happy, and progressive is the aspiration and prayer of your own wife" Lucy I shall look for little bits of letters at Richmond & Michester.