Blackwell Family
Emily Blackwell
General Corresp
Gould, Julia F.El Montecito, Jany 31, 1885
My dear Dr. Emily,
I registered a vow
on New Year's day, that this first month
should not be ended before I had written
to you, and I am shocked to see how
near I have come to breaking it!
But I was obliged to neglect my
friends - in seeming, never in reality -
during the autumn and early winter.
As you see, we have moved, and the
organizing my household on a permanent
basis, and the things growing out of 
it, have occupied me more fully than
I quite like.
Now, however, I am able to take
a little breathing spell, and my all
but laid aside correspondence comes
to the front in consequence.
Perhaps you may have heard that
our house on Madison Square had
been leased for five years. It is
just as well - better, in fact - since

Do write 
whenever you
can. every
thing that you
tell me is
of interestwe cannot make use of it any longer,
certainly at present. My brother can
never live in New York again. Here he is
comparatively comfortable, and may
remain with us many years. Mother,
too, is better off in a smaller place. As
I must be with them, it follows that the
new home must be here.
And, indeed, it is a charming spot,
a little wooded valley, four miles from
Santa Barbara (which is still my 
address,) high up in the mountains,
and close by the sea. This climate
is a joy and a blessing to those
favored to live in it.
While you are alternately freezing
and, thawing, ice one day, and slush
the next, we are revelling in bright
sun shine and balmy air, with just
enough rain to make the country a
garden of verdure.
We have a place of about
seventeen acres, through which runs

a little brook, a rare and much
prized thing in California. The grounds
around the house are tastefully laid
out, and the house itself is very
comfortable. In contrast to the shabby
furnished house we came from it is
delightful, and the sense that we once
more have a home of our own is truly
satisfactory
Thanks to my little horse, and
the open air life, I keep fairly well,
though I have a great deal of care
and responsibility all the time. If only
I were not so far away from my friends!
Still, I find no difficulty in being on
the whole very contented!
I am thinking a little of taking
advantage of the visit of two of my
cousins, to new home for a few weeks
this spring. If I do, I shall walk in
upon you some morning.
I wish I might send you alarge bottle of our sunshine, a dozen
or so of the breakers, with their white
caps gleaming and dancing in it,
and the waterfall which I see tumbling
and foaming down the mountain side
from my window. If the express charges
were not so heavy, perhaps I would!
Give my love to Dr. Elizabeth when
you write. I never shall forget her
kindness and patience to me at a
crisis in my life. Kind regards also
to Miss Ellen and Dr. Cushier, please.
I hope your little daughters are
doing well. Always very cordially yours,
Julia F. Gould