BLACKWELL FAMILY                                                                               Bl 
LUCY STONE

Blackwell, MarianW Brookfield Sept 15
Dear Marian
Your letter came 
while Alice was so ill. that 
there was not ever time to 
acknowledge its receipt. 
You will be glad to know 
that the child is so much 
better. that she is all about 
the house and barn. and 
tho she looks pale and thin and 
her eyes glassy. She daily 
gains strength and tomorrow
we intend to ride across the 
country to see my sister Sarah. 
She had a regular "run" of 
fever. followed by a billious 
diarrhea. She was so nervous
that the crow of   the cock
or the sound of voices. made
her half wild. and she would
not allow anybody in the 
[*can't take Alice. and so it seems. as tho. it would be best 
to keep house. if we can get a good housekeeper- We hear of some furnished houses. 
near Boston. and 
shall go down 
next week to 
see. I should 
be very glad to 
be relieved 
[?] 
already 
cooking 
with my 
own hands, 
three meals a day. which 
has gone on 
now so many 
months. that 
I feel disgust at everything.
Lucyroom but me.  Harry was
ill, part of the time, tho he
only "gave in" for a few hours
one day.  Happily we are all
better now.
I am glad you are able to
relieve Nettie of the children.
Just at this time, it must be
a great blessing to her.
I hope the 8th girl, will
prove just the right person, both
for the work, and for the children
who I hope will be a relief to
the long sad strain of the
summer, and do you good
while you care for them.
They will not take, nor fill the
place of the dear good mother,
but they will give rest, in
the difference -
As for Mother, we shall all
always keep a pleasant
memory of her, and be thankful,

that the suffering is
all over for her.
She always turned a warm
sunny side to me, and I
loved her from the first.
When I returned to Cincinnati,
the summer after Ellen went
to England, I found Mother in bed,
with her arm lying over the green
quilt, her face the picture of sorrow.
She felt alone, and deserted,
as Mrs. Allen had written to
Elisabett. I went in to her room
and put my two hands each
side of her face, and kissing her
cheeks, told her, that I would do
my best to be as good as an own
daughter.  She drew my hand to
her lips and kissed it, and the
tears were in both our eyes.
Then I sat on the bed, and
told her of all the little happenings
since I [left her] had goneEast - Then I said, I would
go down, and have something
nice for her supper, But to the
surprise of us all, Mother
appeared neatly dressed, looking
as bright and cheerful, as tho
nothing had happened, and took
her place at the head of the table,
and forgot that she had been ill.
She needed sympathy, as we all
do. From that time she seemed very
near to me.  She always cared
for all our family interests, and
entered with a great deal of
spirit, into all my work for women.
Dear good Mother!  We shall miss
her everywhere - She was a cheerful
presence, in our house, all the
time you were absent, and in any home
we may ever have.  We shall miss out
the bright "good morning" and the dear
good night.  She never failed to give
[for?] ourselves, all our plans fluctuate.
If Alice could be with Miss Andrews,
I should rather board, and look about
this winter, to find a place, that we shall
be glad to buy & keep, but Miss Andrews[*Duplicate? *]
[*(Probably 1870)*]
West Brookfield Sep. 15 (?)
Dear Marian: 
…. As for Mother, [*Mrs. Blackwell*] we shall
always keep a pleasant memory of her and 
be thankful that the suffering is all over
for her. She always turned a warm,
sunny side to me, and I loved her from
the first. When I returned to Cincinnati,
the summer after Ellen went to 
England, I found Mother in bed, with
her arm lying over the green quilt, her 
face the picture of sorrow. She felt alone,
and deserted, I went into her room and
put my two hands each side of her face, and 
kissing her cheeks, told her that I would do
my best to be as good as an own daughter. 
She drew my hand to her lips and kissed it, 
and the tears were in both our eyes. 
Then I sat on the bed and told her of all
the little happenings since I had gone east.
Then I said I would go down and have

something nice for her supper. To the 
surprise of us all Mother appeared, neatly 
dressed, looking as bright and cheerful as
tho' nothing had happened, and took her
place at the head of the table, and forgot that
she had been ill. She needed sympathy as
we all do. From that time she seemed very
near to me. She always cared for all our
family interests, and entered with a great
deal of spirit into all my work for woman.
Dear, good Mother! We shall miss her
everywhere. She was a cheerful presence
in our house all the time you were
absent. We shall miss her bright "Good"
morning" and the dear "Good night" she
never failed to give. ----- 
Lucy