Emily Blackwell Jan 14, 1880- Sept 19, 1880 Lucy Stone Blackwell53 East 20th Street Jan 14 . 1880 Dear Lucy The check arrived safely. I have gone round selecting articles with Ellen -- I think she will get out of it a blk silk wadded Jack, a blk poplin dress - a wine coloured woollen every day ", and a bonnet. We have done the best we could, and it was a most timely present, and a help to me also as it is a great trial to me for her to be very shabby, and yet if I began giving her clothes it wd lead to her counting on it, and getting deeper into debt, to say nothing of the fact, that I shd find it hard to do it but I have had two girls sewing for her in the home to make them up, and make the money go farther. I shall feel keenly interested to know how [???] matters go on. I have felt great anxiety lately lest Harry shd have got burdens too great for his strength, I did not think him looking at all well last time he was here. And it is a miserable complication for you with your home and engagements in Boston. I hope the right course will present itself, And I do hope now the season is over that he will be more at home with you and less driven. If Sam's girls were worth anything Florence or Edie ought to go up and keep[Emily] house for them in Portland if the Money [?] comes in, but I suppose they wd be incapable of it. The Wide awakes were duly received, and gave great satisfaction. I suppose Emma will have written you an account of the Christmas. We remembered you all , and wished you were within reach. Now the children have begun school again. They are going to quite an old private school on 22nd St not 4th av & Broadway. It is so near, and the way so quiet that they can go and come alone, which is a great relief, and I am inclined to think they will learn a good deal more than at the Quaker school. Among other undertakings, I have taken up one small one which is quite a novelty for me - namely every other Saturday, the aid of some of the young women Drs of the infirmary & College. I hold certain informal sociables, of which the only stringent regulation is that no one shall wear anything but their everyday dress, as they are to be attended by busy people such as the young Drs, who are also rather poor. We held our first last Saturday evening. It went off very well. Emma & George came in from Orange. The next will be on the 24th. and thereby send you & Alice a standing invitation. I don't know what they will amount to. If they are slow we shall drop them & find others. Affty Ey. 53 East 20th June 3, 1880 Dear Lucy. I have rec'd several cards from you with friendly invitations, but have been so driven with work that I have answered nothing I cd help. I had quite arranged my plan to bring the two children & Henrietta to you when the school ended, and if needful return to close up here, and join them again July 1, and look out for a summer place. But when it came to the point Ellen looked round for some way of disposing of Paul, and has found by answering an advertisement, a person, a lady who looks like a very nice person, Mrs. Grosvenor of Englewood - close by in N. Jersey, who would like to take him for the summer, free, as a companion to her little boy with the hope that her husband will assent to his adoption if they like him. He goes out today. If this plan do not fall through Ellen will drive to join me with Susie, because virtually she can not provide for herself. Now of course you do not want such a party, unless it were an absolute necessity, so I am looking for some nice and inexpensive place where she can go for the last half of June with the children, then I shall bring them intoEmily Blackwell June 3/80 N. England, we cd have Mrs Hewat's if desired, and perhaps it might be well for six weeks. It is such a large party that I think you wd be glad not to have them, and when it comes to the point I can't leave Ellen she must either come to yr house or be boarded. So I mean to run on and see you myself as soon as I am free. If the party had been only myself & a little party perhaps you might not have found it unpleasant to have us for a while, and I shall work to come in to see how you are, and talk things over. I do hope you will not lose much in the beet sugar settlement. Mrs. Lawrence has returned to Gardner with Howard, George is about again and has let his house from [?] 15 to Sept 15 for $200. So things are better there, and they will go up to New England before long. Have we not had dreadful weather - it is cooler now, and I shall let the youngsters stay at school till the 15th if it remains fairly cool. but it has been a satisfaction to know I cd send them up to Boston if it became intolerable. I shall write you again shortly. Love to Alice. Afty EB Chilmark. Aug 28. 1880 Dear Lucy. I recd a letter from you today, and was glad to learn that Alice was improving, and apparently you also. I have not come on partly because it was pleasant here in the hot weather - partly because having brought Agnes, who is entirely another child, I felt it best to stay and look after the group of young ones, who are too much of a handful for Ellen alone. I think I shall pass through Boston before going home to see Lucy Sewall about another effort which is suggested to open the Harvard med school. She writes me she shall return to Boston on the 7th Sep. so very likely about the 8th I may appear. I shd also like to bring Agnes to return with Florence if she be going anywhere near that time as A greatly inclines to return in time to seeEdith before she leaves home. And my party will not return until the 15th when they will go to Orange. Should it be cold in early Sep. I might be glad to take the whole party to Harrison Square for a few days, for the house is unprovided with bedding or means of warming for anything but the really warm weather, and the cold storm that has just passed over the last 3 days showed me that both Ellen & Henrietta wd cave under any chill. If it had not cleared up warm again it wd very soon have been necessary to remove them. I wonder whether it wd really be not inconvenient to accommodate them for a week if such an interregnum shd occur earlier then they cd have the Orange house. Of course then I wd carry the expense of the party. It wd be, if at all sometime from the 5th to the 7th that we shd leave probably. If warm they wd probably prefer to remain when I run on, with Agnes. I think Coey's hill is charming, only too much in the village, and too much a resort for walking parties if I remember rightly. I think you ought to make G drive you over to the Habbardston farm that he admires so much. At what time will you return to Boston? If I can I shall bring Mrs W's boots. I cd not send them without going over to the P.O. 8 miles off, and so I have delayed. Agnes has greatly improved from her seaside holiday, and I think has enjoyed it on the whole very much, though the children are rather young for her sole companions, and I think she willEmily be ready for another change when Sep comes. She is a good, docile child, with a neat handedness, and taste in her little drawings and cuttings, that really might be cultivated into some self supporting direction, if she cd be placed in good training, and inspired with self reliance and ambition. I have found my stay here much pleasanter than two years ago when the Folsoms were with us, partly because the house is not overcrowded The weather has not been as perfect as then -- we have had more warm foggy days, and sudden changes. There has not been a day however in which there has not been lovely hours, and beautiful effects. But it is not a climate for weak chests or throats or rheumatism. I have no doubt that Goucher has been much better for you. Love to Alice. Affty yrs EBYork Cliffs Aug 18, 1897 Dear Ellen I am glad so many of the family have drifted in your direction. It makes it pleasant and sociable for you. I suppose you have had the same cool summer, with changeable weather, and a good deal of rain, that we have had here. It has however been pleasant, and the place is looking very pretty. Nannie went to the Thousand Islands on the the 13th to visit the Robinsons who own an Island and have a summer camp there. The girls like Nannie, they have quite a young party, and she seems to be having a very good time. About the 24 to the 26th you will probablysee her. She can reach Troy about 3.30PM -- and will probably be able to take an afternoon train. However she will write you beforehand. I have had a very quiet summer, and it slips away so quickly. A month hence I shall be gone. The place is very convenient and attractive, but for a short summer I shd prefer it be more completely rural. I had a visit yesterday from Mrs Frances E Willard. She was visiting at Ogunquit a married daughter of Ole Bale, a Mrs Baugn, and her B. neace & baby, a Miss Shapleigh friend of Bessie's at College, all came over bringing Miss Willard whom I was glad to meet. She looks rather feeble. She belongs to our generation -- past the period of most active work - She met Elizabeth in England, and spoke very warmly of her. Their carriage was drawn by a pair of stubby Norwegian horses belonging to Mrs Ole Bale, who is a Boston woman. Mrs Foster is at the Inn again. She was Josephine Lytle, and is a curious aged resemblance to the young girl. Her married daughter is here, And a middle aged unmarried one And a son. It is curious to have such reminders of how time has passed. I have had no letters of any consequence, nothing from Harry or Alice.I have been very well all Summer. I walk better, and am stronger than at any time since my illness. I am glad you like your new quarters, I met a lady the other day who spoke of Dorset as being an extremely pretty neighborhood, she liked it better than Manchester which seems to be the best known. With love to the family who may be near you. Afftly, Ey 53 East 20th St. Feb 10 1880 Dear Lucy - It seems as though I shd not be able to run on to Boston any time this winter, for it is just so busy a time that it is wonderful how difficult I find it even to run out to Orange. It is not that I have so very much of any work, but so many kinds - to run a little household a little college a little hospital a little practice - though they are all small makes endless claims on one's time & attention. I write you now on a matter I shd have spoken of if I cd have paid you & Harry a visit. I am turning over in my mind my plans for next summer. Ellen has let the Rockaway house for $400 to a married daughter of Mr. Lawrence. It is not a large [reals?], but it will carry the house. We thought it best to do it for several reasons.The children are now nine years old and I do not like to keep them six months out of school. Then C & S are grown so large that they are quite beyond Ellen's power of management when they run wild & unoccupied and I am away all day. Then Ellen's poor health made the housekeeping a great burden to her, and she really cd not carry it so as to make it a tolerable home - She is also unwilling to stay there through the great heat, and I had to close the house last midsummer and take them all to Caterkill, and 3 moves seem too much. Then it seemed as though the only way to get rid of the herd of cattle, and the bother about Paul was to cease to occupy a house which belongs to her, and in which therefore she feels that she ought to have the decisive voice in regard to household arrangements. For all these reasons I have felt it best to have the house let and Ellen has been equally willing to do so. What I wd like to do if I cd, wd be to go to Europe this summer and see the people there, taking the 4 mos. of July Aug Sep & Oct. and attending the Congress at Geneva- returning latter part Oct. I did think of taking E & the children and establishing them at Hastings for the summer, but on consulting E & K in regard to expenses, I find with the journey it wd cost certainly $1500 ,and that I cannot afford. Now it has occurred to me whether it wd be possible for me to place Nannie & Neenie with Miss Andrews for the 4 mos, and let Ellen & Susie visit the different family households for a few weeks each, so as to obviate the need for a summer establishment for this summer, and be free to run over alone. I can not leave the children with Ellen, they are too much for her alone. I must do something else with them, and it wd be too expensive for me to support three separate arrangements. Do you think Miss A wd take the children in, or wd she refuse to have them during the summer? or for a short period? Does it strike you as a feasible plan? I have said nothing about it to anyone because I may be unable to carry out any such arrangements and I[*Emily*] don't want to make talk about what may come to nothing. I don't so far think of anyone but Miss A. with whom I shd want to leave the children, and she might not care to be troubled with them in summer, but I thought I wd consult you about it. If I fail to make any satisfactory arrangements for them I shall give up the plan, and then shall probably take them to M Vineyard for July & Aug, and board the party in Orange, or with Miss Drake in the mountains for Sep & Oct, making the summer 4 mos instead of 1. Is there any likelihood of H's going to Europe again this summer? I fear from what Sam tells me there will not be much chance of H's getting free from Portland enough really to live at home for the coming year, you must often be perplexed about yr own work & arrangements, for the Beet sugar affair is a very upsetting element in yr calculations. I wish it were near enough to come in for a Sunday talk over plans & doings. Love to Alice - tell her I always think of her when I go to hear Robert Colyer Affly, EB [Emily] Orange. Sep 19, 1880 Dear Lucy, Here we are at last, settled in G's house. I reached N. Y. at 5 p. m. with Nannie, went to my house - found nothing from Ellen, and a line from G. who had called in the morning on the way out. I stayed in town Thursday & Friday, hearing nothing from Ellen. Friday aft. George appeared telling me E & party had turned up that morning without their trunks and in a generally distraught condition, having been 4 days on the road. They went to Oak Bluffs Monday aft - had to stay over as there was no boat - Tues. stormy and they wd not cross. Wed morning went to New Bedford - thence to Newport - stayed there a day - partly because theirlargest trunk, though checked, had not come on from N B. partly because E had a fancy to see Newport - came on by Newport boat Thurs. night, arrived Friday morning at Orange. G came in, got two trunks - 3d has not yet turned up, and came up to me. I took Nannie out with a bag of sheets & towels - and yesterday & today we have been settling down. As G was alone in the house he was glad to see them arrive at last, and now we are beginning to be somewhat in order and rested. I expect to send the children to Miss Robinson's school next week. I hope the arrangement is going to answer as to me there was such an accumulation of small but pressing business, that when I went in yesterday I drove the whole day without so much as stopping to drink until I went out by the 5:43 train. It is quite warm, and the mosquitoes rather bad, but bright & cheerful. It is at once familiar & odd to take George in again, but the house hardly looks natural without Emma in the sitting room, and Lovina in the kitchen. Still I don't wonder she likes to keep the children away awhile longer for it is warmer than any of our M V weather, quite like going back to dog days. SoI look forward with no delight to the railroad & office toilette, but it can't last long Ellen is playing Moody & Sankey's hymns on the melodeon, and Henrietta and all the children are holding a Sunday concert. This big house needs a large family to fill it and make it cheerful. If G & E had six half grown children Emma wd not find the house so lonely. I wish you wd come in and pay us a visit - we had a pleasant three days at yr house, and I remember my visit there before as a most blessed relief. I wish it were not so far, and that you & H & A cd drop in for an aft now & then - it wd be a great pleasure. Edie has gone back to Swarthmore - they wrote offering a reduction in price, and to make arrangements to let her take extra science instead of Greek, and Edith & Nettie so decidedly desired it, and E was so reluctant to start at Cornell unless for 3 years certain, and preferred Swarthmore at any rate, so they took the offer & she is alreadyIn view of the poverty of the family it is perhaps as well - $600 will finish Swarthmore nd Cornell wd have required $1500. The Browns are settled in G's house, much pleased with it. Mrs. B is an intelligent, cheerful western woman of 35 to 40. has traveled a great deal - spent some years in Europe, and I think will be a gain in that side of the hours, and a pleasant neighbor in Orange. Love to all Affy Ey [*Emily*] 54 East 20th Feb 21. 1880 Dear Lucy, Many thanks for yr friendly letter. I think I shall wait till the end of the month, and then write to Miss Andrews. I have not much expectation than anything will come of it for this summer. If it do I think you wd find that Emma wd be very willing to have a month's visit from E & S in October. I don't believe she wd feel it as a burden for a few weeks, for Ellen wd be helpful and friendly though trying, and Emma is so sociable, and so glad of company in her big house, that I don't believe for a few weeks she wd find it a trial. If she did or G did for her I am sure we wd put no straw on her. In the same way at Somerville I believethey wd not be sorry for a month's visit if they got even the actual expense of their food. So I do not think the burden need come entirely on you, and a month might be managed by the seaside somewhere, though board even at low prices runs up very fast. If it did not cost so much I shd like to have given Ellen the benefit of the complete change, but I am afraid of its involving me in expenses even beyond what I can allow for by estimate. What kind of a place would Newburyport be to spend part of the summer at. If I do not go abroad I have thought it might not be a bad plan to go there for Sep Oct & enough of Nov for the children to attend Miss A's day school for a quarter, that is I shd spend perhaps Sep. there, leaving Ellen & the children later. I shall want to keep them out of town in the fall i f I can combine school instruction & discipline with country freedom. Would Newburyport be a pleasant & cheap place for such arrangements? You see my plans are still rather chaotic, and in the course of a month I must bring them into shape, because Mrs. Stewart wants to know early in the spring whether we shall engage her house or not. Do you know Newburyport enough to tell me about its advantages. My fourth "at home" came off last night. We had 28 guests, it has always been from 20 to 23, includingthe young Drs - It was very pleasant, they were nice people, all persons in active life and full of interests, I am inclined to think they are going to be a success, for which I am glad, as it is not pleasant to make a failure even in a small undertaking. I often wish you & Alice & Harry cd come in. I am sorry that G's boils, and the baby's sickness have kept Emma & George from the two last, and will make their attendance uncertain; for Emma is very social, and I think New York wd look more attractive to her if she made pleasant acquaintances, and she wd be very glad to come for she enjoys anything social. But the little gatherings are quite too quiet & unpretending to be worth a newspaper item. Aaron Powell and his wife were there, and I was amused, and pleased to at his asking me of the Drs how long they were to be continued, and adding "he had not enjoyed anything so much since the old antislavery times". I return some letters of Alice & Harry, as I think you have kept all their European letters, and these shd have been returned long ago. Love to all Affly EyBDr. Emily Blackwell wrote to Lucy Stone, from 53 E. 20th St., N. Y. Feb. 10, 1880: " It is so busy a time that it is wonderful how difficult I find it to run out to Orange. It is not that I have so very much of any work, but so many kinds. To run a little household, a little college, a little hospital, a little practice - though they are all small, makes endless claims on one's time & attention." It was evident during 1880 that the beet sugar business was giving Mr. Blackwell much work & anxiety & that he was not very well, & that it complicated things for Mrs. stone, too. to have him away so much. Also that they were helped by Mr Blackwell's sister Emily[*Emily 1880*] Chilmark August 10th or 11th or 12th Dear Lucy, I enclose letters to S & N which please forward - it will do as circular. also letter from Marian wh please forward also. I send $2. Please pay yrself for Agnes shoes mending & , also I shd be much obliged to Alice if she wd with part of it do a commission for me. viz - go to a paint store where they sell artist materials paints, &c - and buy me a cake of moist cobalt blue water color. It comes in a tiny dish covered up in tin foil - it is only about an inch long. If she asks for a pan I think they call it of cobalt blue water color - they will know at once what is wanted - it comes in hard cakes or moist in the little pan which I wd prefer It could come to me by post. I want it for sketching. Mr Davis gives me such glowingaccounts of the Lake Superior Country, the trip there, but still more the dry invigorating air, [and] beautiful country and delicious boating. I have really regretted that you did not use your ticket. I shd think it wd be a very good place for you to lose your touch of bronchitis. I suppose yr Gardner trip is broken up by S & E not coming to yr house. Wd you like to take a fortnight and go up there, if you wd I shd feel greatly tempted to go too and see the country. I am enjoying the Vineyard very much. I write, and read a little, and sketch, and sit on the beach, or on the cliffs looking down into the rollers, and find the day only too short. Ellen is certainly in much better health at present, and consequently in a more cheerful and equable state of mind. wish we cd gather up yr spare apples, and pay a visit now & then. Ellen & the children are just crossing the fence on an expedition for berries. We shall hope to hear how all goes at Boston. Affty EyB[*Emily*] New York Ap 4 1880 Dear Lucy I have read yr postal card & letter. I do hope you will have pleasant weather, and find a good boarding place. If you have not by the end of the week I think you had better go on to Washington. I am afraid you find Wilmington very wearisome. If you do, don't stay - Washington wd be more lively - or come back to New York. Harry writes telling me you feel it a bore to be is wandering and are seriously questioning whether you can not safely return to Boston. Now there are two objections to Boston, the weather, and the work. How are you going to avoid being overrun when you go back, and how are you going to occupy & interest yrself when you do return except by taking up your old occupations and interests? This is a question that seems to me about the most important. The staying down here for three weeks longer is a temporary thing, a transient annoyance.But how to arrange yr life on yr return is more difficult. I shd find it impossible to stay in New York, and materially change my relation to the college & practice. If I decided that I ought to do so, I cd only do it by going away. So the point comes back whether you had not better seriously consider the going away from Boston this summer as I suggested. I believe you wd not have had the attack but for over work & worry. You have recovered from the acute attack, and feel pretty well as long as you have no burdens on you, but it must have further weakened you for the present - get back in yr rut and I believe you will break down; insist on struggling along and you will shorten your life. I don't believe a little easing up here & there is enough, I believe you ought to get entire change for some time. I hesitate about urging Europe because as it wd work in in some respects with my plans, it might seem as if I were unconsciously influenced by that. If you cd go to California, or travel in America for six months, in such a way that you wd n't either lecture on Woman's rights, or push the paper, but turn to new interests in yr surroundings for the summer, it wd answer the same purpose, but I don't see that you cd do it here - in Europe the country - the travelling &c. wd be an occupation and an interest, and wd prevent yr missing yr old work for the time being. Your going for a whole year next year depends on so many contingencies, on yr letting the house, on H's being free, on the paper &c. being so provided for that you cd leave for a year; meanwhile you are not in a condition to wait quietly for a few in yr tracks. What will you do this summer? I don't believe you realise yet as fully as I dothat this attack means that your brain & heart are overtired & worn, and that the recovery from the acute attack only means the first stage of recovery that now you have a more chronic exhaustion to recover from, that it [is] isn't enough to take off a few pounds of the load, but, to throw it and the pack saddle entirely off till the sore places are thoroughly well. I write about this now because yr letters suggest what I feared, that it will be very hard to find you a change that shall not be wearisome. You don't want banishment, you want amusement & interest in change. We are all well. F. has got through so well that I am quite relieved off the idea of any serious trouble; the real trouble is the slightness of the poor childs constitution. Our last At Home came off last night - a pouring rain, but we had 20 people, and very nice ones, so that it ended with an atmosphere of success. All the young Drs enquired after you with interest. Love to Alice - Keep us notified as to yr progress and how you get on. Afft EyB 53 East 20th St Ap 15, 1880 Dear Lucy. I can not understand how my letter can have gone to the Dead letter office, and yet reached you. They return to the writer from the central dead letter office at Washington. Anyhow there has evidently been some curious delay. I was a little surprised that you took no direct notice of it, but thought yr conclusion to wait a year was in answer to it. If you get a good opportunity to let yr house this summer I shd think it a wise move, because I believe a change wd be very desirable for you this year, but if I were you I shd include Alice in any move I made. I shd not want to leaveher to roam about at loose ends in yr absence. I do feel very sorry about Harry, and I suppose you will not positively determine summer plans in detail till you have seen him. How I wish you cd let yr house for so good a price that you cd all go to Europe, even if H only spent the two holiday months there. My own plans still remain about the same. Ellen tells me she proposes to make no summer arrangement that does not include Paul, but she is extremely unwilling that I shd make any arrangement to take away Nannie. Neenie she wd be rather glad to have go. I still feel that my only way is to make my summer plans such as shd in no way depend upon her, and let her fall in with them or not as she likes. Also if I cd see a good way for her spending the summer away from me I think it might be an advantage so that the feeling she has toward me on the child's account might subside. But I say nothing about it, and am waiting to see how your & George's summer plans shape themselves, as arrangement for Ellen must depend somewhat upon them.. So far G has had no nibble even for his own house, and they are a little annoyed at the fact. G has let all his other houses but the one in the woods behind him, and is feeling greatly encouraged generally.The baby has Eczema of the head - Howard has the same on his leg - I am annoyed at it, because it is one of the modes in which a scrofulous constitution not infrequently shows itself in children. But the acute rash that has troubled the baby so much for a week is nettle rash. It is now improving. But I wish they cd have made up their minds to a wet nurse. If he don't improve I shall urge them to try one, but I fear the child is too old now and would refuse to go back to nurse a stranger. But E & G have had a hard time, and are still having it on account of broken nights and worrisome days. Yet I can't say they either of them really look sick, they bear it better than might have been expected. If this warm weather last you will begin to think you [might?] go home. We have left off the furnace. all well. Love to Alice affly Ey 53 East 20th St. Ap 18th 1880 Dear Lucy It is Sunday afternoon, I am sitting in my office writing at my table by the fire, stopping sometimes to sneeze violently as I have an abominable cold in my head; from the kitchen comes up a chorus of Moody & Sankey's hymns, Henrietta leading - the three children in chorus. They are all sitting on the table before her, and she on a chair before them, playing Sunday school, of which the exercise consists of a series of jolly tunes, of which the refrain "pull for the shore boys, pull for the shore" or "our eternal home" &c. come up with more force and glee, than grammar orpronunciation - varied now & then with roars of laughter, that show us how satisfactory a level are both pupils & teacher in point of intellect & sympathy. I am very glad to hear good accounts of yr progress. If the weather wd only continue mild I shd begin to sympathize in yr desire to return home, for I suppose if you do anything with yr house this is the time, and I feel as though in so important a matter as letting yr house for a year I shd be glad for you & Harry to have had an opportunity of talking summer and winter plans too over before finally consummating the step. Moreover it seems as though you ought to be on the spot to know the proposed tenant and decide details, if you decide upon it. If really it were important for you to go to Boston on this account I suppose you need not actually wait for May 1st if so doing wd be a great disadvantage. I do suppose you cd stay quietly at home without taking cold if you wd keep absolutely out of duties that obliged you to go about without regard to weather &c. If there be no haste of course you are better placed as to weather at Wilmington, but I rather shrink from yr letting yr house for a whole year without consultation with Harry or knowing yr tenant except by report of an agent. Especially as it seems as though my letter had suddenly decided you to the step. Whenever you decide[Emily] upon coming North you must spend a night in New York so that we may have an opportunity of talking over plans. We have given up the furnace since Wed last - it became too hot to endure fire - on Friday without fire or furnace the thermometer stood at 74 degrees in my office - Saturday it became quite cool again, and I lighted the fire but not the furnace - whether we shall continue to do without it or not I can hardly tell. It seems very unreliable weather. Ellen has signed the Herrick's lease so I suppose that matter of the Rockaway house is settled for this year. I am still very busy however and find the day only just hold the day's work. I was very glad to see Miss Andrews letter, and that the idea of the drill sergeant was good. Love to Alice Affly Ey 53 East 20 St Ap 25. 1880 Dear Lucy I imagine you and Harry & Alice delighting in yr pleasant house, and talking summer plans, the gossip of the last six weeks. I hope you are having a good time, and not too rain & chilly weather. As soon as you settle yr own plans please let me know. If you stay at home and make a summer excursion let me know what you mean to do. I shall have to decide my plans before long, and I shall be a little influenced by those of others If G decide he wd like to go to the Vineyard for Aug. it might incline me to go there if I stay here. If you go any very pleasant trip which I cd join, it might incline me to board the family where I cd leave them for a few weeks, so as soon as any fixed points appear in your horizon let me know. I shall think of Alice hurrying into her beloved class [Emily] on Monday. I do hope you will remember my injunctions and keep out of work & worry. If you find you can't, it will be the strongest argument for letting yr house. I do wish poor Harry was quit of that nightmare of beets! Tomorrow, Monday, Ellen goes to Lawrence for 3 days to get the house ready for the Herricks who move in Saturday. G came to see me yesterday to ask me for cost of Vineyard living, and whether I wd go if they wd. They seem to have quite a hankering for a seaside August, but I doubt if they really go. At the best you can do it wd cost them fourfold their Gardner expense. Love to H & A. Affy Ey [Emily] 53 East 20 St Ap 28, 1880 Dear Lucy I did not find yr note in the "Little Gem" till this morning. Many thanks for the invitation to spend Sunday. I should very much like to, and should have been tempted to come on, though perhaps not with my whole tail, had Ellen been at home; but Ellen went down to Rockaway on Tuesday, and will not return till Friday evening, or possibly Saturday. She has gone down to get the house in order for the Herricks who will take possession either Saturday or Monday. So I cd not possibly leave before Sat. night and I think I shall hardly be able to get off. If you do not see us be sure you hear our good wishes and congratulations on Sunday. At dinner time we will all drink yr health, if it be only in water.Twenty-five years! What a deal we have all done and gone through in that time, and how completely our surroundings and relations have changed since then. I had not returned from Europe to being practice! Well you certainly had not such a lovely home, nor where you surrounded by as cordial friends as you are now. Nor had you a cub to chaff you with affectionate disrespect. I hope every succeeding anniversary will see you in these happier circumstances, and that the next will see the load of beets off poor Harry's back. I can fully sympathise in your satisfaction at being at home again. It must be getting lovely unless you are much behind us. The pears are in blossom here - the magnolias are also - the lilacs and early bushes are in half grown leaf, and the [birch??] trees in young tinted leaves - but shaded enough to begin to throw shade under them. It is full spring - the beds of hyacinths and tulips are lovely. I do suppose you will not leave home if you can avoid it this summer, both on account of H's engagements, and the expense, unless it be for an August trip. If you so decide mind you must not resume the editorship of the Journal, and the burden of the Conventions. The danger of yr doing so is the principal objection to yr settling down again as once in Boston. Engage Mr Brush for the summer, and clear out in August so he can't drop in on you. George is quite desirous that I shd go to the Vineyard, so that he might have the opportunity of bringing his family down for a month if Howard don't do well; but I am doubtful as to how Emma cd get on with those two little ones at so troublesome and requiring an age in such limited quarters, and such rough conditions. If they do even tolerably in Gardner I don't think they will feel like movingagain, and Emma wd greatly miss her parent's help for Mr Lawrence is a great help with Howard. I suppose my own plans will remain undecided until the last minute when it becomes absolutely requisite to settle them. But it seems rather a formidable undertaking to carry my two little girls twice across the Atlantic, and to leave them among strangers. I shd not wonder if they proved the anchor that prevented my drifting across this summer. G has a party on hand whom he hopes may take his house for Aug 15th in which case they wd turn Eastward very soon. But it may come to nothing. I do very much hope that you will keep well, and that you will really enjoy yr life more for being obliged to allow yourself a little more leisure. With much love and good wishes for the silver Sunday, and hoping all the rest of your years will be [?] for you both. Afftly yrs EB This slave is supposed to be me. [?]