Anna Dickinson Family Correspondence [ Dec. 1, 1885 - Dec. , 1886 ]"Victoria" New York 12.1.85 Dear Little Honey, I hope & pray for some improving report of Mother tomorrow-- "right along". Do not get sick thy small self. For me I bark & bark but Caro says I am better than I was a week ago.--She wishes much love sent. Mine always Anna Any new word from John? -- Hast written to Ellen? Thought thee might care to see these. A"Victoria" New York. 12.1.85 Dearest dear little Ma, How has the nasty east wind treated the poor little hermit in her cell today? It has been as "nasty" a one as is often made but I hope the precious little beingHas not suffered from it.--& that Dickey will have a better report to send of her today than yesterday. --I had a letter from May Sheldon (she is in London) who asked with solicitude for my “dear Mother & sister" & wishes her “special & affectionate regards sent.” She herself has had another of the bad attacks like that she had here last spring. Dicky will be amused, (& I hope Maumee too) by these little squibs I send. The vimmin had the best of it!--Caro R. is here & wishes her “very best love sent to both.“--Mine to Dickey, & an embrace & a dear kiss & my very whole heart to my Maumee from Anna R. to Marthy!"Victoria" New York 12.2.85 Dearest dear little Maumee, How is she this day?--The sun has shone, & it has not been an ill sort of air that has blown & so I hope with all my heart that the precious little being "down in the hills," has had a helpful & comforting time out of it. -- I had a line from John this morning which records that he is doingpretty well & enjoying his work & keeping himself "warm" --tho' to be sure he has not yet found need to test his garments in that inhospitable clime for he reports "remarkable weather so far." He wants Judge Kelley's book (--tis a little one) & I think I must get one for "home consumption" at the same time. Maumee & Dick will want to see what our old friend has to say.--It is in book shape but not much larger than a pamphlet. --Caro is in, & hopes all goes well, & wishes her dear love sent & "every nice thing that can be imagined."--So do I.! Here is such a queer story that if my Maumee has not seen it she may care to have Dickey read it to her. What keeters the vimmins are about their "prastes."! I wish, wish, wish I could send health & happiness in the screed.--Yes I do.--If wishing would carry them they will come.--AnywayI can send love to Dicky & an embrace & the core of my heart to my dear little Motherkin. Anna R to Marthy. "Victoria" New York 12.3. 85 Dear little Dickey, Here are some papers the small being may care for, so I send them. - I hope she is quite over her mis'able cold. I believe my chief trouble now is the neuralgia & "sticky" mucous that agonize my stom. They go off to a degree in the afternoon but wake me up of mornings.--I hope with all my heart that the next word of the dear little Maumee will be better, & that a satisfactory account of Dickey will come along. --I wish I had something of which to write but I haven't. Hope it will come soon. Thee will care to see this of Bishop Duggan,--& if Maumee remembers him, or my talk about him--maybe so will she.-- [* Love to Mrs. Davis. Caro's to the little *] [* honey--Mine always from Anna *] "Victoria" New York 12.3.85 Dearest dear little Maumee --How is she, poor dearest little dear?--It has been a bright warm afternoon here, & I hope it has been so at Pittston, & so been beneficent to the dear little sufferer. --If I could only take her in my claw & give her a gentle shaking, & so shake her pains & achesout of her, & a good right minded stom into her dear bit of a chest! Bad, bad little Ma, to do so! --Has she listened to any of the Rice business? If so she will care to hear Dickums read this defence. It is all right. --I had a letter from Ellen this afternoon & she wishes her love sent, & asks for all "at home".-- She seems to be struggling bravely with what is around & before her, & she says DeWitt is "behaving like a man." So much the better. Caro R. is here, & Mrs. Stewart has come in while I am writing. They both say "if good wishes would make your dear Mother well she would certainly be in her bed no longer." & they both wish their love sent. Caro "specially". --I have nothing of note to send.--so I mustcontent me with sending my best love to Dickey, & an embrace--& a close one-- & a kiss, & my whole heart to my dear little Ma from Anna R to Marthy! "Victoria" New York 12.4.85 Dearest dear little Maumee, --Dickey rejoiced my heart by writing that her precious little invalid was better, & had sat up again, & been read to a bit.--I hope the nasty East wind of to-day has not hurt her & "set her back" again.--tho to be sure this time of year is a sad thing to get through.--I want to go see the amenities in their winter quarters,--& I wish I could take my best beloved little lion along (& her B.F.K. (big, fierce, keeper) I laughed over the "Bars" & thought Maumee would, too,--So I send them for Dickey's reading. --Caro R. wishes her dear love sent.--And I mine to Dickums.--I wish I could send a heap else.--Meanwhile I embrace & kiss my dear & send her my whole heart Anna [* R to Marthy! *]"Victoria" New York. 12.6.85 Dearest dear little Maumee, --It has been such a fine clear day, with the wind out of the South-West that I feel sure my dear must be better. Sure am I that I hope so with all my heart. News I have none. Mrs. Stewart has been in & wishes her "sincere regards" sent, & Caro is here & wishesher "best wishes & dear love", & I wish more than I know how to say that I had a budget of every good thing to send with the good wishes of love. Dickey may care to look at the papers I forward, specially (by chance) at Smalley's diatribe against Stead. Anyway, I send them.--& I will write her tomorrow. My love to her. --I take my dear little Mother in my arms, & hold her close, & kiss her & send her my whole heart Anna R. to Marthy!"Victoria" New York 12.7./85 Dear darling little Mother, --The weather has had a cruel change but I hope with all my heart that the cold has only cleared the air for my dear, in her room, & not chilled it for her. I wish I knew how to send her comfort, & strength, & health. Alas, I dont.--But I takeher in my arms, & give her a close embrace, & hope Dickey's next word will report her better, & kiss her, & send her my very whole heart. Anna Caro's love,--"dear love" to both. Mine to Dickey.--& R to Marthy. "Victoria" New York 12.8.85 Dearest dear little Mother, --I hope the bright sunshine to-day has done my darling Maumee some good, & that she is more alert & brighter (with the sun) than yesterday. I wish I knew how to send her some health & strength. As it is I hold her in a dear embrace &kiss her, & send her my whole heart. Anna Caro's dear love to both. Mine to Dickey. & R to Marthy. "Victoria" New York 12.10.85 Dearest dear little Mother, I had a head so bad last evening & yesterday as to make it impossible to scratch my dear so much as a line & the fact that I couldn't made me worse, for I can't bear to let a day go by without at least a little word of love to my dearest dear. --I hope spite of the vile weather that she is mending, & that Iwill hear word to that effect from Dickey,--they say some mail went astray yesterday & that is why I sent my telegram awhile ago. Caro sends dear love to both. Mine to Dickums. --I embrace my Maumee & hope soon to kiss her in fact,--& I send her my whole heart Anna R to Marthy. "Victoria" New York 12.11.85 My dear dearest little Maumee, --I had hoped to be so much better today, as to say for certain to my little dear when I would be home.--I have been miserably sick & held & worried by many matters or I would have been down long ago.--But I am better & confidently hope to be off in a day or so when I hope & pray that I may find my darlingdear grown quite a "little lion." once more. Caro says "Oh! I hope so too, & give her my dear love.--& my love to Miss Susie." --I would write Dickey if I were up to it. Will scratch her a line or a telegram tomorrow.-- My love to her, & a dear embrace & my very whole heart to my Maumee from Anna The fine weather ought to do her good. R to Marthy.Commonwealth Wisconsin Dec 14th 1886 My dear Anna I hope what I read in last evenings Chicago Journal is not true - that you are by the bedside of your Mother who is more ill than usual - I am very sorry dear for any trouble or sorrow that comes to you - if you only knew what a secure + warm place you have in my heart + in the midst of all my physical + mental sufferings how I have send loving tender thoughts out to you - all the news I have had from you for years has been thro' the papers, + they Christine is in Italy- I seldom hear of or from her. Will is in Medford. Arthurs in Florida. John in Arkansas. Frank in New York in charge of Lyceum School of acting. so we are seperated in all ways. So write me dear if only a word if you have time just to say that you are well & that all is not misfortune with you- My dear brave noble woman God bless you I wish I could take your hand & look into your dear face again- never forget dear that whenever you want to come west & see me I have an open house & heart to welcome you & all is at your service always. With hope that the mother is not as ill as reported Scarcely ever speak or write the truth. Since I wrote you, we have been thro' everything in regard to our boy except that we do not get him back- it drove me last winter into an asylum near Boston, (please don't be shocked)-for the Insane I partially recovered, was called home & here I am trying to be careful & avoiding the exciting topic. I am physically "undone" & a wreck beyond repair- I have 6 children at home- my oldest daughter nearly 18 years old is a Heaven's gift of comfort & delight to me-my youngest is not three years old yet-. Think of it- I have had 10!! children in all 3 dead- 1 missing- 6 at home-and wishing you every joy success & happiness. I am always your lovingly Lizzie G. Dickinson, Anna E. Dickinson.