ANNA DICKINSON FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE [March 2, 1880-March 31, 1880]AED Phila. 3.2.80 Dear little Dick, I have not absolutely decided--but think it pretty sure that I will give the readings. Will let thee know presently.--Poor little, dear little fragment of a Ma.--I hope & pray she is better & will be herself by the time this reaches you I did not get off Richardson's book today but will do so tomorrow.--Today I send her my very bestest love with this dab of ink. More anon.-- Always devotedly Anna [* Will tell Ellen what thee says. *]Homesdale. March 2 1880 Ev'g. My dearie, Thy little note to me came yesterday, and that for ma today. We are very sorry to hear of the neuralgia besetment,— especially with the whole windy month of March yet before thee. Mamma is better; we have been fighting the hemorrhage with all diligence, and got it almost stopped. If now we can succeed in keeping the tendency to it under control she will probably do well enough again. She is anticipating Richardson's book — also the 3rd volume of Mme. R's when it comes out — with satisfaction. My head keeps in pretty fair condition, and I earnestly hope it will hold out to let me accomplish all I have marked for this month. There is no other news to give, and I write this line tonight only because I know thee will be anxious to know how mother is. With dearest love from both, Faithfully, Sister S.Phila. 3.9.80 Dearest Maumee, I have no excuse to make for my some days silence save that Betty has been & gone, & has been very busy about some work in which I have been prowling with her. We talked heaps about Maumee & the little imp,& she sent them both great store of love. She looks pretty well, & is pretty well-- not very, & things go "as usual" at home. How is my Maumee? & how is Dick?--I will write more fully tomorrow. Meanwhile I send Dickey word that the poem, & the Custer book, & the Winter City I thought I thought she could fork over to any one who wanted them if my Maum & she did not.--They were given to me. Love to Dickey & my heart to my Maum Anna Phila. 3.16.80 Dearest Maumee This is just a little love message, & enquiry.--I will write tomorrow. How is my Maum? How is my smallDick? How does she find Richardson?--& how do the small [?ni?is?] get through this March weather? I send my best love to the wife-- & my whole heart to my Maumee AnnaPhila 3.12.80 Dearest Maumee, I thought she might care to know what "Our old friend Judge Kelley" is about--so I send her this clipping. How is mydear blessed little bit of a Ma in this frightful weather?--I hope well--tho' I fear. Let me have a line to say she is a dear little friskey lion,--& that she behaves as well as she can. I send her my heart. AnnaHonesdale. M'ch 13. 1880 My dearest dear, So Libbie has been with thee a little while, and "is pretty well"; I am glad to hear it. I have not written for a week; because last 2nd and 3rd days I spent in bed - I had not been as well as usual for a fortnight, and my head & throat & stom'y proceeded to unite their forces at that time. However, I had to hurry to get well for mamma was getting ill again with a heavy cold -- which she had caught somehow, if she don't get out -- and has not been able to sit up since Wed. She did have a very suffering time Thursday & Friday; but I now think she will be able to sit up a little while by tomorrow (Sunday.) I enclose the latest news from J.&M., which came in a letter from M. a few days ago. If John will stick in the Methodist ministry I wish he'd get transferred to some conference away from the sea air; and shall once more say so, whether he choose to listen or not. A letter from Mary a week ago said she hoped to have mother for a little visit this spring. If mother will go there for a week or so, while looking about for a place till June there wd be decided 2 advantages in some ways -- but I shall say nothing till Mary herself writes to ma about it. The letter I mention was in answer to some matters I wrote Mary about, & I did not show it to ma -- she (M.) attended to what I had sent for, & then added the remark about the spring. It does not look now as if spring was coming very early -- the week just ending has been the severest of the season, here. My dear, I know mamma has written thee again about adding to her savings fund am't if thee had any to spare next month. I think it wd be well not to add much, even if thee could -- just yet. It has been some weeks since, but it was said in a way that indicated it as not a new thought, that she meant to have Edwin removed to the S.W. ground. The Board of Health cd not refuse her order, (as the nearest relative, in law,) and Samuel Fogg wd not hesitate to obey her directions to such purpose. I suppose thee could issue orders at Woodlands preventing it effectually, but do not know. At any rate, there is no need of inviting such trouble by means of a large sum to draw on. It hurts me to write it, as it will thee to hear, but I don't know how soon thee will be leaving town -- and I3 cannot feel easy to leave thee unwarned. It may have gone by in her purpose, if not in her thought. But the experience of a great many years does not leave me by any means certain of that. I would not however name the subject to her, unless she should, in the future, make it unavoidable. Mary would oppose her, I doubt not, if she named it to her. And it may be, I hope it is, possible for thee to control the whole matter, if it should be necessary, by a word at Woodlands. A letter from Julie Myers, enclosing the pres. of Hannah's, which always used to control mamma's hemorrhages, says they have seen nothing of thee this winter - except her one day in Eliz. in Dec. She says the children are just over whopping cough & Sue adds Julia has had quite a time with the same, & a lame arm, "but is quite herself again."Rudolph goes home Feb 29th - the Drs are both very busy - & " Thos E getting to be very literary, writing or reading most of the time!!" Many thanks for the books, for which I shall have use. With best love always from both- Faithfully, - Sister S.Phila. 3.15.80 Dearest Maumee, I knew she was sick before Dickey wrote me to that unsatisfactory effect.-- & I am afraid she is no betterthis hideous weather makes mince meat of every one.--I am a lame duck in wings & legs-- about to blow--but expect to get through a deal better than I did last spring. I hope the sun will shine by the time this reaches Honesdale --Then Maumee & Dickey will getfriskier. --Dear love to Dickums. I send my Maum my heart Anna Phila. 3.15.80 Dear little Dick, I don't wonder that the two small beings have been ill--tho' I am very sorry-- & am afraid they are still "under the weather" literally. I have been too lame to write. My sciatica hops aboutin my body, - roosting in my "chist" & arms. - While it remains in solemn fixity in my legs-es - Still I am in no such misery as I was last March, & would be quite lively if the sun would shine. Luckily I do not have to go on a rampage till it is pretty sure the sun will shine. – Otherwise - I have a good fortnights leeway before I begin work. I note all the says in thy last & will remember - It certainty would be well for thee to "protest" to John, - if he will pay any heed to it. He is a lunatic for sticking to the ministry under such conditions, at least. I hope the Longshore's do not know I am in town. They worry meto death with their talk & ways - they are so different from what they used to be - & I have not the strength to stand that sort of thing - also there is no reason why I should. Even Julia is not the same, tho' in her case I would have gladly seen & talked - if I could have avoided the others. I suspect Betty is on the sick list, too, as I have not heard from her since her return. Always faithfully, Anna Phila 3.16.80 Dear little Dick - I hope this horrible weather is not entirely sapping Maumee's strength & thine. It is killing to anyone, even people who are strong. Scratch mea line from day to day, if possible, to let me have a word of report. With dear love Anna I thought thee might like to see this of ThomasPhila. 3.16.80 Dearest dear little Maumee, - I wonder how she is today? I am afraid no better, but I hope she is really friskey. Bad, dear little lion to get sick & have to gather its poor little paws under cover instead of going about on them.Everything here is dull as ditch water - "for the rain, it raineth every day" & makes things dingy & ill- smelling enough. I am somewhat limberer & less achier than yesterday, - & lame or otherwise in body - I send Maumee my heart AnnaPhila. 3.17.80 How is my dearest dear little Maum today? She should be better. For the sun shines. I suspect it will not stay out but it is a comfort to see it out atall. Smells as bad as ever tho'. - I never saw such afilthy city as this "clean" Philadelphia. Even New York is better. Is my Maumee too sick to care about Frisco, & Kearney & the doings in California? - If not she must have felt like patting the head of Judge Rix for his sentences. That Judge deserves well at the hands of community! I hope for a line by night, from Dickey, telling me of the comfort of my two small vimmins. - My heart to my Maumee AnnaHonesdale, March 18, 1880 My Dearie, I did not write my line for thee by the 5 pm mail, because I should have had only bad news about mamma - and I was in hopes some of the remedies would yet ease her poor head to some degree before the day was over, - which is at last in good measure accomplished; and I hope we may be able to keep it relieved, and increasingly so. It did seem this morning as if she would go out of her mind with it, between the influenza gathering & the neuralgia. Pour little ma! if she only did not have to suffer so when she is sick. Of course she was weaker to bear it from having had those hemorrhages so recently. I didn't dare to expect that she can recuperate very rapidly after this attack. Thee does not say in this letter how thy sciatica & neuralgia are behaving, &, I am afraid, not so well - the weather does keep so trying with its constant changes. I feel a good deal troubled about the exposure I am afraid thee will meet with in attempting to travel and read next month. Mamma was well enough to hear thy little letter read just now, - and she says thee is to know she did rejoice exceedingly over that San Francisco judge with the Kearney matter. I had kept her informed about that, which she was much interested in. At this present moment the ground is white and the sky is grey, although the sun did shine part of yesterday and to-day: and to-day the "stormy winds" did not "blow" as they had been doing. With dearest love always from Mamma and myself, Sister S.Homesdale. March 19. 1880 Afternoon My dearie, By keeping mamma about all the time under the influence of yesterday's prescription we are able to keep the intense pain in her head much relieved. The gathering and discharge will get through in time--and a change of weather will probably help to lessen the obstinacy of the neuralgic attacks; and meanwhile we must e'en try to keep her as comfortable as possible. She does not eat much, but a little more than she did. It is snowing a wet snow today -- a raw, March wind and sky. How goes the world with thy own dear self? No letter yet to-day, but there may be by the ev'g mail. I wait on Mamma, and scrawl, and eat, and sleep. What can there be new or special to tell beyond the daily bulletin for ye present? Be a good girl and take care of thyself. With dearest love from Mamma & self, Always & always thy loving sister S.Phila 3.19.80 Dearest little Maumee, I did not get a letter written yesterday, because I was so horribly lame as to keep me in bed, but today spite of the weather, I am a deal better.How is my poor little dear little Maumee? & how is her small nurse? I hope they are both comfortable & that Maumee has taken to sitting up after dinner instead of "after tea". In place of news, of which there is none, I send Maumee my heart AnnaPhila. 3.20.80 Dear little Dick, I am afraid thee is getting worn out with the weather, & thy work, & constant care & anxiety about mother. -- I wish every body was well -- & rich. I do not begin work till a littlelater than I had at first planned (5 of April) & think I will get through reasonably well . -- I should judge the Western people are well disposed towards both me & Aurelian, &, if I do not make a deal of money I have no responsibility (giving the piece in this way) so I can't lose, -- & it will be a good entering wedge for next season. Try to keep well -- that is to say something like comfortable! -- My heart to thee AnnaPhila. 3.20.80 Poor, dear little sick Maumee How is she today. Dicky's reports of her are a comfort & a pain. -- I hope & pray she is getting a little tiny bit friskey again -- more like her own dear small fragment of a self, instead of a mass of suffering & misery -- Poor Maumee!some people's souls good -- when they "have a call to it." -- but I doubt whether it makes any less drunkenness. I look with anxiety for my "Bulletin of Health" & trust it will be a cheerful one. The sun shines today & that makes me better. My heart to my Maumee I had a letter yesterday from Frank Willard & she asked with great affection for thee & Dickey & desired her faithful love sent to you. She is evidently very busy in her W.N.C.T.U. (Woman's National Christian Temperance Union!) -- Why couldn't they have called it the Alphabetical Union? -- & saved time & trouble? Well! I suppose that sort of work doesPhila 3.21.80 Has my poor dear wilted Maumee revived a bit in this sun shine? -- Oh, I hope so, -- & that she is sitting up looking at it with a degree of comfort. And how is the bad small Dick?-- & are the people of the hotel good to my frail little Ma? -- & does she have nice things to tempt her to eat? -- & is the Dr good & kind to her? I wish I could make her well in a breath. I can't. I can only lament over her & send her my heart AnnaPhila. 3.22 80 Dearest, poor little Maumee, -- How is she today? Last night was so beautiful & today has been so clear & fresh that I hope she has revived a little. -- Does she eat anything? -- &does she sleep some? I hope, hope, hope for comfort, & ease, & growing strength for her, -- & that my small imp is not falling from concert pitch. -- My love to her, & my whole heart to my Maumee Anna Phila. 3.24.80 Dear little Maumee, Frank Willard came to see me today -- & was in grief to hear of my poor little Maum's illness & wished his love sent to thee & Dicky -- also hissympathy. -- She is "given over" to her woman & temperance howls. -- I remember when she was scared at the mild doses I used to give her, & was very squeamish about speaking to a "regular audience." She has gotten well over that. So time changes -- & people with it! How's my Maumee? That is the all important question. She ought to begin to be quite afierce little lion. I hope Dickey will tell her that she is -- & I send her my heart Anna Betty has not been heard from for some days. I suspect she is not well. The spring always tries her. Phila 3.23.80 How is my small imp this morning? I am afraid she is getting worn out, & hope for her sake as well as poor Maumee's thather state of health is improving. I growl, & ache, but on the whole get along as "well as can be expected." -- the prospect looks well for the rest, & I think it will all go off rightly. -- Bernard is as devoted as ever, & I think has learned more sense Always faithfully Anna Dickey Phila 3.23.80 Dearest little Maumee, -- is she just a bit friskey this morning. Dicky writes that she behaved herself right well -- sat up, & ate, "like a little duck" soI hope she is growing to be quite a fierce small lion, again. I hope so -- & I send her my heart Anna 3.24.80 Dear, dearest little Maumee, How is she this cold, raw March day? -- I am afraid the cruel change is telling on her -- buthope not. There is no news at all to record, so I send my love to Dickey, & my heart to my dear little Ma Anna Phila 3.24.80 Dear little Dick, I see from the clippings Bernard sends that the western papers mean to talk well. It is the only way -- (this western plan) to circumvent the nasty New York tribe. If I went inon anything in the East they would find & go for me, -- but a lot of small Western towns, they have not counted on & can't get at & the result will be "Aurelian" will get a national stamp before they can sneeze at it. Also, my faithful friend, Fitch of the Boston Post has had another booful editorial on the play, & that sends the word along the Democratic line of papers. Annie Lippincott -- I should think so! -- She hasno voice, nor face, nor presence, nor magnetism, nor any thing to succeed in any sort of professional life. What fools even learned people can be. The idea of her mother making such an experiment with her! Hope this will find Dicky pretty well AnnaPhila. 3.26.80 Dearest little Maumee, -- Dickey's small note telling me my poor dear is better has come -- if she will only keep on "getting better" & her bad head would only behave!Betty writes as if she were pretty comfortable but says she was up the greater part of the night with Pa "very looney." -- When he is at all sick or "askew" he is really as crazy as Willie & anything but a comfortable member of community. Frank Willard tells me she has made quite a friendship with John since I saw her last. -- She is growing quite stout, -- & is verynice. News? No news to send to my little Maum, so I scratch the inky sign of my love to the imp, & of my heart to my Mau. AnnaHonesdale, March 27. 1880 4.30 p.m. My dearie, Thine of yesterday here. Mamma is more comfortable today, she's slowly improving, tho she can't sit up much more than she did. A note from John this P.M. also -- "driven" to get through closing work before Conference. M at Mt. V---, where he goes on Monday, & on Tuesday to Bklyn to Conf. Stays next week (or more) at Rev. J. Simmons, 43 Fleet Street, B. Doesn't know yet whether he is to lecture in Scranton or not, -- is in correspondence with them. Says nothing about his health. Ma still says, go to see Mary & cuz. H's before leaving P--- if only a half hour. About the last named, at least, I shouldn't trouble myself, notwithstanding. Thee can give her some sufficient reason, if thee don't want to go there. with dearest love from both, Faithfully Sister S John sent me $25, which comes in very well-- especially as I certainly never hint to him i want anything.Phila. 3.29.80 Dearest Maumee, What is the word today with my two dear small vimmins? --They say here, that Phila. is a big hospital -- every body sickwith the rough spring & dismal weather so it is not strange the two little blessed weaklings are not as fierce as lions. -- But I hope the one is mend 2 --mend -- mending, & that the other is not losing ground. News? -- none. I have had no word from Lib for some days. -- Had from Bernard this morning & thereby hewishes it stated that "Oscar" sends his love to my dear mother and sister" So do I muchly. My heart to my Maum Anna Phila 3.31.80 Dearest Maumee, How is she today? -- I hope ever & ever so much better. -- And how is Dickey? And are mytwo small dears well enough & disengaged enough to read the clippings I send. -- I have sent none for a week past because I thought there was no "call" for them. I am going to slip over to Elizabeth today. -- Back Friday, & westward the next evening.Love to my small imp, & my heart to my Maumee from Anna