ANN DICKINSON       FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE         August 2, 1879-August 29, 1879Eliz. N. J.  8.2.79

Dearest little Maumee,
I am 
cooking myself over 
the rather 'slow' task
of making a clean 
copy of Jeanne D'arc.  
It has never been
written out, & Bettyhas nagged & nagged
me about the necessity
 & propriety of putting
in order that "historic
piece," till I have
at last given in, &
am nearly done with
it.
It is verry hot here
today, but not uncomfortable.
 I hope it is
lovly at Honesdale, &
that my Maumee is
enjoying herself, & doing
as well as a little lion.
 Dick will explain
the Harper's letter.
Betty sendsher love. My heart
to my Maumee from
Anna

Maumee.


8-2-79
Dear little Dick,
I
suppose the delay
in getting out the
book in an account
of what Harper
says here about 
England. [?]They want the copy to reach England
before it is put on the market here.
Can't make anything else of since
the book was all done, a week 
ago. -
Had a letter from Julie
asking for thee & Maumee, &
reporting well of Lou -  but I believe
her bad time never comes till aweek or so after 
the "event".  
Did I write
that it is a little 
girl? 
Please mail 
the enclosed letter.  
It is from one of 
my "small" torments 
who is trying to get 

me over to her place, 
& I don't want her 
to know where I am 
or she will persecute 
me to death. She 
wrote to Phila. 
Is the weather
pleasant for thee & 
thy work at
Honesdale?  - Hereit is slightly warmish, - but then
I don't object to warm weather.
Not sure yet when I will
look in on thee.  Certainly not
till after the book is out, as I want
to send off divers copies that are to
come to me here.
Mine & Betty's 
best love.  Be a good child.
AnnaHonesdale.  Aug. 6. 1879
My dearie,
     I see by the adv. in to-day's 
Tribune that the little book
is out "this day."  New I hope it will
proceed to have a large sale.
     Mamma is sick in the bed to-day
and has been really ill for several days.
To-day I summoned the doctor.  It looks
as if she would be up again, at least
part of the day, by to-morrow.  But she
has been, to my eye, and others, so
steadily failing in strength all season
that, now the little book is out, and
this attack has come on her, I thinkthee ought to know it.  So long as there
was strong cause for it I prefered
keeping it all to myself - but don't 
feel like carrying too heavy a responsibility.  
She may rally and be as
well as ever soon, - but at her age
of course there can be no assurance.
     At any rate she is so much 
happier and more content here
than for a long, long time that I
am very glad we came to Honesdale.
    I smiled a little over all people
know of your "jolly times".  The letter
Ellen Everest wrote about must have
been my earliest one dated Danville
telling of my trip down, the iron works &c.
(written here.)  The trip was made

in the middle of my uncertainty as to what
was best for mother's sake to do, before coming
over here.  I sincerely hope she is not going to
be sick.  I'd earnestly like her to have a comfortable
time while she stays; and, whenever she leaves
this life to do it without suffering.  All the more,
because, when she is sick especially, I should
not want to have her do without anything she
fancied or needed.  Don't get into a panic,
& think she is dangerously ill now.  She is not.
But, if she should be, thee ought to know there
have been threatenings, first.  Dear love to L., love to Pa,
Our heart's love to thy precious self. 
                                       Sister S.Eliz N. J.
8.7.79
Dear little Dick
I am
on the eve of my ado,
& want it to be over &
done before I travel.
My purpose is to 
come up next week &
stay for some time. I
hope & pray that mother
will be already a great
deal better when this 
reaches thee.
Do not fret about
expenses. I am as pooras Job's cat, but have
enough to see you well 
& comfortably through
the summer. Does 
thee need any money
before I get up?
Please keep or send
back the Post article.
I want it for my scrap 
book.
Dearest love from 
Bettty & AnnaThe Solid Man of Boston and the Sea Serpents
In the August weather panting, spite of yachting and Nahanting
And a diet after Banting, sweltering on the ocean's shore,
Met a citizen of Boston, while his solid form was roastin'
And his boiling brain was lost in some remarks of Dawes and Hoar,
Which he thought were quite a bore

Suddenly he had a notion that a creature from the ocean,
With a wonderful commotion, rose and stared at where he sat;
And the creature, able-bodied, bowed its head and winked and nodded,
As if partly tight or toddied, ready for a friendly spat - 
Nothing in the world but that.

Quoth the citizen blue blooded: "What's this creature cobra-hooded
Which, when I am angry mooded, comes to drive me from the beach?"
Quoth the creature: "Honored deacon from the sacred street of Beacon
Cease that foolish style of speakin', which no sort of truth can teach;
Wait till I have made my speech.

"I am truly what you deem me, the sea serpent, as you see me, 
And I come ashore to free me of a message from the deep. 
'Tis of Benjamin, the yachter, whom I met upon the water
Making ready for the slaughter of the Massachusetts sheep:
He is working while you sleep.

"Well you know the fearful nature of the General's candidature
And you can't avert your fate, sure, if you sleep while Butler wakes.
He'll be with you in September, making ready for November,
And your rings he will dismember while the canvass hot he makes,
Just so sure as snakes are snakes."

Then the serpent, quickly veering, with his tail his motions steering,
In the ocean disappearing, seemed to slowly settle, down;
And the citizen, perspiring, sought the station, never tiring,
And a special engine firing, hastened back to Boston town,
In a study very brown.

Straightway sought he in the city the Republican Committee,
And, to prove his gizzard gritty, an enormous check he drew. 
"Take this cash," he said, "and use its power here in Massachusetts,
For the Commonwealth will lose its head unless our best we do;
Things are looking very blue.

"Butler soon will home be coming and his canvass will be humming,
While his followers are bumming at a very rapid rate.
We must hasten now to beat him, to demoralize and cheat him,
Or the people yet may seat him high upon the chair of state. 
Such will be our shameful fate."Eliz. N. J.
8. 7. 79

Dearest Maumee,
Dicks
letter of this morning
says my Maum is 
not well. Bad
precious Maum to
behave so. And at
Honesdale where every
thing is so pleasant.
I hope to have a line from
her own little claw in a day or so saying she is frisking round
on her little lion's feet again.
The book I have not yet seen.
Hope they will forward my copies today
when my Maumee shall immediately
have hers; -  Meanwhile she can read
what my old friend Fitch of the "Boston
Post had to say about it before he read
it.  I had a nice letter from him
yesterday telling me he wrote this on
the hull of the Herald article.
He is one good fellow.
Also my Maumee is to smile over 
the "elegant extracts" I send, & that
Dickey is to read her.
All well here. Betsy sends
great store of love, & I send my whole
heart to my Maumee.
Anna.MaumeeEliz. N.J.
8.8.79
How is my dear, blessed
little Maumee this
morning? - Does the
change in the weather
do her good , or ill? -
It was a very heavy
day here, yesterday,
& last night & this
morning early there
was a deluge of
rain.Betty groans some - 
& prances round, - &
Pa. groans a great deal
& dont prance much
round. - He wishes
his best regards & Betty 
sends store of 
love.
Does my Maum
know this Marylander?
His wife did evidently
not believe in the old
English law concerning
the "corrections" of  a
husband.

Did Dickey mail the letter I 
sent her? I forgot to ask.  Love to 
her.  My whole heart to my 
Maum from
Anna

The Light in the Tunnel.
From the [?] City Chronicle.
A new device for the bedevilment of lovers
was operated successfully by a heartless young man on
the local train yesterday.  A couple sat in the seat before
him. The lady was young and modest, and the swain
wore very large cuffs. One arm was thrown carelessly
along the back of the seat, and upon this the evil-minded
person behind rubbed some phosphorus. The affectionate
performances of that cuff, when the train was rushing
through the kindly darkness of the tunnels, were beheld 
by all the unfeeling and snickering occupants of
the car, whose cruel enjoyment was not a little increased by
the demure and unconcerned appearance of the lovers 
each time the train bounded again into light.

The wife of Thomas H. Benner of Hagerstown
had been warned before she married him that his 
temper was violent, and that, sooner or later, he would
whip her. She seems to have made up her mind what to 
do if he struck her, for when he did so, she drew a revolver
from her pocket and shot him dead.Honesdale 8-10-79
Dearest daughter
Am better,
but feeble, got cold, fell the
effect of the great change in 
the weather, went down to 
dinner to day, the weather cold
for the season, thanks for thy
dear little notes, but want thee
to hasten to report in person
and come prepared to tarry
a good while with us, 
we have made some very pleasant
acquaintences here, the house
is orderly and well kept, and 
we are kindly treated, but
I fell all the time as if I am only
at a hotel, and expect ere long
to go home, tho' alas! I have
none on this little earth to 
go to but wish to be content
and thankful for my blessings.
for I know they are many
[*The letter thee sent for mailing was mailed, immejit.*]Susie has been a good deal unwell, but is now better
and mostly very busy.
A letter yesterday from Mary
says she has had a very suffering
time in connection with
some local ailments John
is not situated altogethe to 
to his liking, and like the rest
of us not well in health, inquires
after thee in his letters, and 
I wish thee my dear!  to present
him with a copy of thy
new book, together with a 
few lines from thy pen by
so doing thee will much
gratify him and oblige thy
mother dear Bettie! how
I would like to hear of her
improved health, dear love
to her and regards to her
husband, R Davis writes to 
Susie that his wife is very
ill, I do not think we left 
there too soon, Susies love to all
Dearly MotherEliz. N. J.
8.11.79
Dearest Maumee, -
Dickey
says, thee is frisking
round, a little: - 
that is right, only
make it a great deal.
Now that it is coolmy Maum has no 
excuse for being a poor
little cat, instead of
a small lion.
She is to smile
over these two new
"elegant extracts" &
so get an addition of
appetite, - on which to 
grow fat.
Betty sends her
best love. My heart to 
my Maumee
AnnaMaumee

Eliz. N. J. 
8.11.79
My dear child - I couldn't
scare up $250 at date
to save my bones, - but
if the transfer of the
note to me, - with a 
margin of six months, -
will straighten the 
matter out for thee
all right. I can 
easily pay it in thattime. - Is there any other plan?
I dont know why the
Harper's delay about my copies, I
have not yet seen the small book
but am told it is beautifully gotten
up. I will drop them a line
about it today, - & will bring
brother Foley's copy when I come.

Betty is not well, - but
scratches along. - & "Pa" is a 
dead weight to carry. - He sends 
his love, - with great store from her.
Be a good child & keep that small
bad head straighter - does thee
hear?
Always faithfully
Anna 
Dick {What is the best way of getting to 
        {Honesdale from here?Eliz N.J.
8.13.79
Dearest Maumee, - 
What
a good, blessed little
Maumee to write a 
letter with her own
dear claw-claw,  - &
to tell me that she
feels a bit better.
I did think to 
be up by this time, but
Lib is disappointed about
her girl - (who can't
come till the latter part
of the month) — & sheis so far from well that I hate to leave
her alone. She has Lorenzo come 
in to do the rough work, but even
then there is a great deal to do, in 
which I can help her. So far as the 
weather is concerned, next month is 
far pleasanter than this, to be in Pa.
If my Maumee will only be good &
not get sick, & worry me when I am!
My Ma, is to smile over
Pa politics, - & Dickey is to read her Mrs
Allen's poem, - & she is to like the old
Dr's notice of the book.
Lib Lansing is still tired, 
& she sends her best love as does Betty.
Jean is having a good time "camping
out." 
Ask Dick what she thinks of 
the Conkling - Sprague affair. — & if
she has heard of latest? — that
Whitey (alias W. R., alias, the young editor)is engaged to Gail
Hamilton!
I send my heart
to my Maum.
[*Maumee*]

Eliz, N. J.
8.16.79
Dearest Maumee,
I
hope the little book 
has come to my Maum's
little claw, by this
time, & that she
likes its private &
public dedication.
Also I hope she
is a friskey
little lion,
not a poor little
feeble one.I had a letter from Mrs Mac
this morning, & one from Julie, 
They both send much love, & Mrs
Mac writes for thy address for 
Constance who wishes to write to thee.
Julie says all goes well
at home. That Lou has been down
to dinner, & that the baby is jolly.
Betty & I prance - & 
groan over the weather, - & she
sends lots of love, & says my 
Ma is werry good to let A.D. stray,
to do her chamber work! - She is 
the Kook. I am glad to hear
Fanny Davis is better. - How's the 
"old lady?" - that's what she
calls my Maum so its a good name
for her tho' I dont suppose she
cares to be called old.
My heart to 
my Maumee from AnnaMaumee

Eliz. NJ.
8.16.79
Dear little Dick, -
what
is Mr Foley's full name?
& address? - & Dr. 
Troxell's?
I hope the horrid
storm has not flattened
out my small Maum
& my small sister. -
Charlotte C. sent
me the Ledger notice
which is very good.only the "Cricket" finds the style
"more forcible than elegant" & elsewhere
discourses of the "bravado style"--
evidently since that is not his method
of speech, he thinks it is not a natural
method of speech, for any one.  The
old Dr. sees, what any one sees who
knows me, that the book is simply
some of my talk.
"Whitlow" I hear, is in
California--so he may not have
seen the report--
What if it were true?--
Wont they make a sweet couple?
Please to mail this yer
letter to Vale.--I dont want to be
tormented by him, either.
Betty sends lots of love
--as do I..--always faithfully
Anna
Dickey
I suppose the books have
come all right, by this time?
[* As usual, the papers know a
deal more about my movements
than I do.
(My pen is feeble--or my ink. *]
No. 651 Madison [St]Av
Eliz, N. J. 8.1[1]3.79

Dear little Dick,
- if
the Harper's don't send
me my copies soon, I
will go after them with
a stick.
Let us hope they
are so crowded with
orders, as to free them 
to neglect them as
don't pay!
Mrs. Akers Allen sent
me this poem of "Fishenden's
Garden" in a letter
receivd yesterday, &
I thought it so pretty
thee might like to 
see it.
Thee will read 
what I write to mother.
If I had better come
along sooner, write me
to that effect , - otherwise
I think I will
not come till later.
Betty sends her
best love.
Be a good small 
child says
Anna
Dickey.Honesdale 8-19-79
Dearest daughter
and so 
my dear childe has done
her poor little Mother
the hon'er of dedicating
her new book to her,
thanks for this mark 
of filial love, in addition
to multitudes of bygone
ones, and I trust it
will meet with favor
to a multitude of readersthe style is rather
piculiar, but maybe
more pleasing than a
plain straight commonplace 
one would have
been, I think it
cannot fail of being very
interesting to those into
whose hand it may
come, and may they be 
many, and the work
bring an ample reward
to its dear authr
in donating copies of it
I want a like thee fort
thinking of thy brother

john, thy sister Mary
and cousin R Hawkin,
I trust dear Libbie is 
in better health and 
will soon be in prossesion 
of a good servant
after which, hasten thy
visit here, I am better
but not well, and I 
think it expedient to 
for thee to determine
in what way the
 household goods and
chattles at Pittston are 
to be disposed off
we have had muchrain and the weather very
cool, is clear this morning, we 
have made some pleasant acquaintance 
among the boarders
here, and probably the weather
here will be so until the
end of ninth mo, when I much
desire to go to Phila where I
hope a quiet comfortable
home I would prefer a fr'ds
family might be found for 
us for the winter and without
the bother of taking much
furniture - much love to Bettie
and pa Dearly Mother
[* *and Mina's expece also*]


is reading the book
I am tak in back to old
times spent in Locust St.
When thee used to tell
us of some of thy laughable
experiences, May
excite my risables even
moreNo. 651 Madison Ave.
Eliz. N.J. 8.21.79
Dear little Dick - I
am trying a new pen
— & shall not try it 
long.
About Kate Field, -
I forgot to write thee
that I had not written, -
I have reasons - nothing
direful, still reasons
why I dont care to 
write her at present,tho I am sure (old pen) that a
request from thee would meet a
very cordial response.--Ought to
certainly, in the face of the nice
things I have been saying about
her.--I think by the by, that this
document from Barnesville is
funny, so I send it, with my
"elegant extracts for mother.
Are these yer notes, letters--
the correct thing?--If they are,
so much the better.--If they are
not scratch me a line in haste,
as to what will be correct, & I 
will try to fill the bill.
"Pa" groans--& desires to 
send his love.  Betty waggles her
head.--Be a good child--says
Anna
Dickey.This lovely looking
envelope is the only
one I can claw
onto that will hold
the tother.

Eliz NJ.
8.21.79
My dearest dear little
Maum, So she
liked her book & its
dedication?
That is all right,
And I am right
glad it has made
her laugh. Laughing 
is good for her, - it
will make her grow
phat.See - I did send a book, with
some words in it to John, & had
a very good letter from him today.
He says he as jist returned from a 
four days trip to Boston, & that he is 
not well.  Also he asks fro the people 
at Honesdale.
I mean to set Mary a
book, - but I think the other people
in Phila can buy theirs, seeing that
I will have to buy any copies I send
them.
Betty & I - yr Biddy's - are
getting on very well, - & Betty says
how she would like to cook some
thing for my little Maumee, &
sends much love. - My heart
to my Maum
AnnaMaumee

Eliz, N.J
8. 23.79
Dear little Dick, -
Here
is the note.  - I 
have not time for
a letter as Betty & I
are going to New York
in haste, or a small
biz.
Dear love from
both to both. 
AnnaEliz. NJ
8.26.79
What is the word
with the two small
 beings? - I am
afraid this long
horrid spell has
laid them on 
their two littlebacks - or next door
to it.
What does August
mean by such pranks?
It seems as tho the 
season had lost a
month, - the storm
has been so exactly
like the mid-September
gale.
Mrs & Mac wrote
me the Tribune had a 
very good notice of a
 "R R." - Has thee it? - If
so please let me see it.
Betty & my best love, 
- "Pa" is in New York -
(for all even small favors good
Lord make us thankful) forthe day or he'd have 
a message.
- Always
Anna
Dickey.

Elizabeth N.J.
8.26.79
Dearest Maumee, - 
How
is she? - Fallen a
prey to the weather?
I hope not.
I see that Atlantic
City had a direful time,
all the plank walk
was washed away &
the most of the bath 
houses. - I should
think it would
ruin the season.Also Ellen Everest wrote
me that they gaped all 
day at some poor
wretches clinging to a 
wreck afraid all the 
time the sea would
wash them away, but 
tho' they were so near
absolutely nothing 
could get out to them
till nearly night, the 
waters were so awful.
What a state of
affairs for August!
Then, when they
were saved some sweet

creatures got out to the wreck & stole
all their clothes & belongings.
Here is a pretty little
"pome" for my Ma. - She is to read
it & smile. Also, she is to be a 
good little lion & to keep well.
Betty sends her love. My heart 
to my Maumee
Anna
Betty, by mistake, has burned the 
"poetic effusion" so my Ma will have to wait for another one.Maumee

Eliz. N.J.
8.27.79
Dear little Dick,
If
I recollect aright
I sent Harper's letter
about London to
thee? Is that so? - 
I cannot find it
& I need it, - if theehas it please send it 
to me at once.
What is the 
word with the two
midgets of dear
women? I hope
a good one.
No word yesterday
nor yet again today
worries me.
Betty sends
her love to both - Hearts
to Maumee & Dick from 
Anna

Eliz. NJ.
8.29.79
My dearest dear little
Maumee , - this is to 
notify thee of the sending
of a small box of big
tomatoes - which box,
in a sense - "as it were" 
is a joint production,
Since Pa "growed" the 
aforesaid tommeys in 
his gardying, - Betty
packed them, - I
suggested their sending
& one & all hope they
will reach Maumeesafely, & that she will
have stommey & appetite 
to do them full justice.
(If Dickey is very
good, she may be
permitted to smell 
them)
Dear love from
all.  My heart to my
Maum--
AnnaHonesdale. Aug. 28. 1879
My dearie,
     There has been so much
crowded in to the last two or three
days that I didn't take note of its
being so many days since last writing
thee.  The chill, wet weather of which
we have had our full share has
told on mamma; - but she seems
pretty well, considering.  We have
to have a fire in the large room
(in wh. is her bed.) When she roasts
me out I shut the little room
off & cool it, - & in a day or two
she is glad to let it go out again.This week is County Teachers Institute
& town & hotels are overflowing
with'em.  Next week will be
court week, & lawyers & their
clients will be the crowd then.
     Nellie Griffin, who has been
delayed by one thing or another,
is now proposing to come to-morrow
for a few days visit.  I have 
not been over to Pittston yet
and don't know when I shall
go - there's no immediate hurry.
  Ma is getting very troubled
because thy last two or three
letter say naught of coming.
She is afraid thee is going to
put her off again without a visit.  She
every once in a while talks of going early
to the city.  I don't know what October
may bring - though I don't see my way to
Phila even then; & certainly cannot go earlier.
I let the talk slide over without answer;
knowing that it must be several weeks
yet before anything can be decided for
the winter.  And if we only have a pleasant
autumn she will probably remain fairly
content.  Dear love from us both, my
precious - & a great deal to our Libbie.  And
our love to Pa C.  Faithfully
                  Sister S.1/
Honesville 8-28-79
Dearest daughter,
Thou sayst
nothing in thy notes when thou
purposes to gladen us with thy
presence, and I begin to fear
thou will let hindur'ces so
far prevail, that the so much
wish'd for visit to us, will
either [be] entirely be pushed
aside, or as is too much the 
case contracted to a small
a very small one how
little my dear daughter, has
been the time we have been
together since the disolution
of our family compact, I 
sometimes feel very sad and 
sorrowful, in contrasting the
present with the past, and
often wish I could have
the remnant of my dearonly near and around me
now that the sun of life is so 
near the seting,     we have
had much rain and cool [weak]
weather, but now it is very
pleasant and I walk out 
a little this morning, we
are having a teachers convention, 
our dining room
to day, fuller than I have
seen it, many school marms
and a Miss Brooks  county
superintendant and who is a very
bright young woman, sits
at our table, it ends this 
evening with a lecture from
general Kilpatrick, the
rain has made the little
town look bright clean
and very attractive, can 
thee not say when we may
see the?> I am often alone
Susie at the office all her 
work, what is Lus babys
name, love to folks there when
the writes, dear love to Bettie
and regards to pa
Dearly MotherEliz. N.J.
8.29.79
Dear little Dick,
I
have sent Barrett a
copy of "RR" on my
own hook, & I want
to send Boyd
or Boyce O'Reilly,
--or whatever his nameis one also.
Please send me
his full & proper name
& address at once.
Have not rec'd letter
yet but hope to do so
by this afternoon's
mail.
How is my small
Maum? & Dick?--
both well I hope:--
--& did the [?]
come.
Betty sends her
love.  Heart to Marmee.
Always faithfully
Anna